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The gastric cardia in Helicobacter pylori infection
R M Genta1, R M Huberman, D Y Graham
1Department of Pathology, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, TX 77030.
Insights
Helicobacter pylori infection and gastritis are equally prevalent and intense in the stomach's cardia and antrum, exceeding severity in the corpus. This finding impacts understanding of gastric cancer and lymphoma development.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Pathology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) gastritis is typically considered more severe in the gastric antrum than the corpus.
- Gastric cardia mucosa shares architectural similarities with the antrum.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the hypothesis that H pylori infection intensity and associated inflammation are similar in the gastric cardia and antrum.
- To compare H pylori infection and gastritis severity between the cardia, antrum, and corpus.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 445 gastric biopsy specimens from 50 subjects (42 with H pylori infection).
- Histological examination using a combined stain for H pylori, mucosal morphology, and inflammatory infiltrate.
- Grading of H pylori density, inflammation, and intestinal metaplasia on a 0-5 scale.
Main Results:
- H pylori was detected in 95% of infected subjects in the cardia.
- H pylori density was similar across the cardia, antrum, and corpus.
- Chronic active gastritis intensity was similar in the cardia and antrum, and higher than in the corpus (P < .005).
- Lymphoid follicles were less prevalent in the cardia and corpus compared to the antrum (P < .05).
Conclusions:
- H pylori infection is as prevalent and dense in the gastric cardia as in other stomach regions.
- Gastritis, excluding lymphoid follicles, is similarly intense in the cardia and antrum, and more severe than in the corpus.
- Findings offer insights into the relationship between H pylori infection and gastric adenocarcinoma/lymphoma genesis.
Abstract:
Helicobacter pylori gastritis is believed to be both more prevalent and more severe in the antrum than in the corpus. The mucosa of the cardia is architecturally similar to that of the antrum. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that intensity of H pylori infection and the associated inflammation are similar in the cardia and the antrum and are greater in these locations than in the corpus. A total of 445 gastric biopsy specimens were obtained from predetermined sites from 50 subjects (42 with demonstrated H pylori infection). Slides were stained with a combined stain to simultaneously visualize H pylori, mucosal morphology, and inflammatory infiltrate. Numbers of H pylori, inflammatory responses, and intestinal metaplasia were graded on a scale from 0 to 5. Helicobacter pylori was detected in the cardia of 40 of the 42 infected subjects (95%). Helicobacter pylori density was similar in the three gastric regions. The intensity of chronic active gastritis was similar in the antrum and the cardia, and was higher in these locations than in the corpus (P < .005). Lymphoid follicles were significantly less prevalent in the cardia and in the corpus than in the antrum (P < .05). Helicobacter pylori infection was as prevalent in the cardia as in the rest of the stomach and its density was similar in all sites of antrum, corpus, and cardia. The inflammatory responses characteristic of chronic active gastritis, except for lymphoid follicles, were similar in the antrum and the cardia and in both these locations were more intense than in the corpus. The significance of these findings is discussed with respect to the relationship between H pylori infection and the genesis of gastric adenocarcinoma and lymphoma.