Gastroduodenal mucosa in peptic ulcer: endoscopic and histological assessment

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of endoscopic and histological gastroduodenitis as well as helicobacter-like organisms in patients with peptic ulcer. After diagnostic endoscopy, gastroduodenal biopsy specimens were taken from thirty patients (n = 30) with clinical and endoscopic diagnosis of peptic ulcer (duodenal ulcer = 25, gastric ulcer = 5). Endoscopic gastroduodenitis occurred in 18 patients (60%). Histological gastritis was detected in the gastric body or antrum in 25 (83%) and duodenitis in 17 (57%) patients. There was significant correlation between endoscopic and histological gastritis (p < 0.05). Helicobacter-like organisms occurred in 73% of the patients with peptic ulcer and in 88% of the antral biopsy specimens showing antral gastritis. Presence of helicobacter-like organisms was in particular associated with acute on chronic gastritis compared to chronic gastritis (p < 0.01). Moreover the patients with gastritis were found to belong to the older age group and 81.8% had blood group O +ve (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05 respectively). We conclude that presence of helicobacter-like organisms in patients with peptic ulcer is significantly associated with acute on chronic gastritis.