The relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection, gastric mucosa inflammation and intestinal metaplasia

Objective To study the effect of both long - term Helicobacter pylori ( Hp) infection and its eradication on gastric mucosa inflammation and intestinal metaplasia. Methods Seventy-one cases of Hp infection for five years and seventy - eight cases of Hp infected for ten years were analyzed by contrasting the changes of Hp infection, gastric mucosa inflammation and intestinal metaplasia( IM). Results Nineteen out of seventy-one Hp infection reversed (26. 8%) after 5 years, while 52 cases still positive (73. 2% ) ; And nineteen out of seventy - eight Hp infection reversed (24. 4% ) after 10 years, while 59 cases still positive (75. 6% ). In Hp infection group the scores of chronic inflammation were 1. 635± 0. 376 , 1.808 ±0. 301 (P 0.05) and 1.661±0.398,2.232±0. 335 (P 0.01 ) in 0,5 and 0,10 years respectively;the IM incidence were 17. 3% (9/52) ,26. 9%( 14/52 ,P0.05) and 11. 9% (7/59) ,39. 0% (237 59,P 0. 01 ) ; the scores of IM extent were 1. 444 ± 0. 527 ,1. 667 ±0. 442(P 0. 05) and 1.571 ±0.534, 2. 286 ±0. 488(P 0.05) respectively. In Hp reversed group the scores of chronic inflammation were 1. 684 ±0.369,1. 182±0. 396(P0.01) in 0,5 and 0,10 years; the scores of IM extent were 1. 333±0. 516 ,1. 167 ±0. 775(P0.05) and 1.600±0. 516,1. 100±0. 316( P 0.05) respectively;the IM incidence were the same 31. 6% (6/19) and 52. 6% (10/19) in 0,5 and 0,10 years respectively. Conclusions The longer the Hp infection, the more severity the gastric mucosa inflammation and the same relationship existed between the extent and incidence of IM. Eradicating Hp not only be able to alleviate the extent of inflammation and IM in gastric mucosa,but also prevent the occurrence of IM.