Effect of Helicobacter pylori Infection on Reflux Gastritis after Gastrectomy

Son, Hye Young; Kim, Young Sun; Jung, Hye Kyung; Yi, Sun Young

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Reflux gastritis after gastrectomy is believed to be due to reflux of bile into residual stomach. However the substances that cause gastritis have not yet been precisely defined. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is considered one of the most important pathogenetic factors in gastritis. The prevalence of H. pylori infection and the role of its infection on reflux gastritis after gastrectomy were investigated.
METHODS
Eighty-one patients who had undergone subtotal gastrectomy were enrolled. Rapid urease test and histologic examination for H. pylori infection were performed during gastrofiberscopy. An eradication of H. pylori was attempted in fifteen H. pylori-positive patients who suffered from gastritis symptoms after gastrectomy. Follow-up endoscopy was performed more than 4 weeks after the end of eradication treatment.
RESULTS
Forty-nine patients (60.5%) demonstrated H. pylori infection in their residual stomach. The histological gastritis score in patients with H. pylori infection was significantly higher than that without infection. Ten of the 15 patients (66.7%) with H. pylori infection had their infection successfully eradicated. And also their symptoms and histological gastritis score were significantly improved.
CONCLUSIONS
H. pylori infection does play an important role on reflux gastritis after subtotal gastrectomy.