Intestinal metaplasia: evolution after Helicobacter pylori eradication and influence in the success of eradicating therapy

• Published in: Revista española de enfermedades digestivas Vol. 95; no. 11; pp. 777 - 780
• Main Authors: Vázquez Romero, M, Boixeda de Miquel, D, Valer López-Fando, M P, Albéniz Arbizu, E, González Alonso, R, Bermejo San José, F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Spanish
• Published: 01.11.2003
• ISSN: 1130-0108

INTRODUCTIONintestinal metaplasia associated with Helicobacter pylori infection is a stage of the temporal sequence of histological lesions gradually induced by this microorganism. It is considered a preneoplastic lesion and its regression after eradication is controversial.AIMto assess the evolution of intestinal metaplasia after eradication and to investigate whether metaplasia is a factor that contributes to successful treatment.MATERIAL AND METHODSfour hundred Helicobacter pylori positive patients were studied. Eradicating therapy was administered and endoscopic biopsies of gastric antrum and body were taken before and after eradication. Among other histological data, the presence of intestinal metaplasia was assessed.RESULTSof all patients successfully treated, biopsies were taken before and after eradication in 268 of them: 71 (26,5%) had metaplasia before and 50 (18,7%) after eradication. A significant difference was observed in the outcome (p = 0,036) of the first eradicating treatment between the group without initial metaplasia (72,7%) and the group with initial metaplasia (61.2%).DISCUSSIONHelicobacter pylori eradication can revert intestinal metaplasia in some patients. On the other hand, the first treatment could be less successful in patients with intestinal metaplasia.