Effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication on bulbitis and duodenal gastric metaplasia

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Duodenal gastric metaplasia seems to be linked to infection by Helicobacter pylori, to the extent of acid secretion and to bulbitis. An investigation was made of the relationship between bulbitis and duodenal gastric metaplasia, or whether bulbitis can arise along with duodenal gastric metaplasia after Helicobacter pylori eradication in an average of six years. METHODOLOGY: We compared 22 patients with duodenal ulcers [male/female 16/6; (mean age+/-SD) 55+/-12 years] Helicobacter pylori-negative after eradication, with 23 Helicobacter pylori-positive patients free from active duodenal ulcers [male/female 17/6; (mean age+/-SD) 59+/-12 years]. RESULTS: The bulbitis score was found to be lower in the Helicobacter pylori-negative than in the Helicobacter pylori-positive group (p=0.02). The duodenal gastric metaplasia score in the Helicobacter pylori-negative was higher than in the Helicobacter pylori-positive group (p=0.001). We failed to find any relationship between the presence of bulbitis and duodenal gastric metaplasia. We found a non-significant inverse correlation between the presence of duodenal gastric metaplasia and chronic body gastritis (p=0.07). CONCLUSIONS: Bulbitis and duodenal gastric metaplasia may depend on different causal factors not related to Helicobacter pylori infection. The extension of duodenal gastric metaplasia with time following recovery from peptic ulcer disease may represent a mucosal protection factor against acid.