Gastric precancerous lesions and Helicobacter pylori infection in relatives of gastric cancer patients from Northeastern Brazil.

Background: Helicobacter pylori infection predisposes to gastric cancer. First-degree relatives of patients with gastric cancer have an increased risk of developing the disease.

Aim: To evaluate the prevalence of gastric precancerous gastric lesions and H. pylori infection in first-degree relatives of non-cardia gastric cancer patients.

Methods: Gastric cancer relatives (n = 104) from a region with high prevalence of H. pylori infection and gastric cancer were invited for screening endoscopy; 80% of them had dyspeptic symptoms. The control group was composed of patients (n = 118) who concurrently underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for investigation of dyspepsia with no family history of gastric cancer. The groups were matched for gender, age and social class. H. pylori status was evaluated by urease test, and histology and histological parameters were assessed according to the Houston Updated Sydney System.

Results: The prevalence of H. pylori infection was high in both the relative (84.7%) and the control (75.9%) groups. Corpus-predominant gastritis was more frequently observed in the relative group, whereas antral gastritis predominated in the controls. The density of lymphoid follicles was higher among the relatives. Also, intestinal metaplasia in the corpus and dysplasia were more prevalent in the cancer relative group than in the control group. Early gastric cancer was detected in 1 relative of gastric cancer patient with high-grade dysplasia.

Conclusion: Individuals with a family history of non-cardia gastric cancer need to be routinely screened for H. pylori infection and precancerous gastric lesions.