The effect of duodenogastric reflux on Helicobacter pylori presence and gastric histopathologic changes.

Background/aims: In this study, we investigated the presence of Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric histological changes in unoperated patients with and without duodenogastric reflux.

Methods: Twenty-two women and 15 men, mean age of 51.17 years, who had duodenogastric reflux during endoscopy were included. Thirty-seven age-and gender-matched patients without duodenogastric reflux served as controls. The Helicobacter pylori infection was detected by histology. The Helicobacter pylori density and gastric histology according to the modified Sydney system were evaluated with specimens from antrum, corpus and fundus.

Results: The presence of Helicobacter pylori, Helicobacter pylori density, chronic inflammation score, lymphoid follicles, atrophy, and intestinal metaplasia were similar in patients with and without duodenogastric reflux (p>0.05). Acute inflammation was found to be lower in the antrum (p<0.05) in the duodenogastric reflux-positive group.

Conclusion: Duodenogastric reflux does not affect the presence of Helicobacter pylori and gastric histopathologic changes.