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Double gastric infection with Helicobacter pylori and non‐ Helicobacter pylori bacteria during acid‐suppressive therapy: increase of pro‐inflammatory cytokines and development of atrophic gastritis
Author(s) -
Sanduleanu S.,
Jonkers D.,
De Bruïne A.,
Hameeteman W.,
Stockbrügger R. W.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
alimentary pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.308
H-Index - 177
eISSN - 1365-2036
pISSN - 0269-2813
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2036.2001.01029.x
Subject(s) - helicobacter pylori , atrophic gastritis , gastroenterology , gastritis , medicine , spirillaceae , proton pump inhibitor , gastric acid , rapid urease test , helicobacter , antrum , stomach , immunology
Background: Long‐term acid suppression may accelerate the development of atrophic gastritis in Helicobacter pylori ‐positive subjects. The pathogenetic mechanism remains unclear. Aim: To test the hypothesis that gastric double infection with H. pylori and non ‐H. pylori bacterial species—during acid suppression—may result in an enhanced inflammatory response, contributing to the development of atrophic gastritis. Patients and methods: A consecutive series of patients with gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease undergoing treatment with proton pump inhibitors ( n =113) or histamine 2 ‐receptor antagonists (H 2 ‐RAs) ( n =37), and 76 non‐treated dyspeptic controls were investigated. Gastric mucosal H. pylori and non‐ H. pylori bacteria, histological gastritis, H. pylori serology, and circulating interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐6, and IL‐8 were examined. Results: Patients on acid suppression with either proton pump inhibitors or H 2 ‐RAs had a similar prevalence of H. pylori infection to the controls, but a higher prevalence of non‐ H. pylori bacteria (61% and 60% vs. 29%, P < 0.0001 and P < 0.002). Both the presence of H. pylori and non‐ H. pylori bacteria were independent risk factors of atrophic gastritis (antrum: relative risks (RRs), 10.1 and 5.07; corpus: RRs, 11.74 and 6.38). A simultaneous presence of H. pylori and non‐ H. pylori bacteria was associated with a markedly increased risk of atrophic gastritis (antrum: RR, 20.25; corpus: RR, 20.38), compatible with a synergistic effect. Furthermore, the simultaneous presence of both types of bacteria was associated with higher cytokine levels than in patients without any type of bacteria. This increase was also greater than in patients with H. pylori infection alone ( P < 0.001, for both IL‐1β and IL‐8). Summary and conclusions: H. pylori ‐positive patients on long‐term acid inhibition displayed three features: non‐ H. pylori bacterial growth; increased cytokine levels; and a higher risk of atrophic gastritis. We suggest that double infection with H. pylori and non‐ H. pylori bacteria is a major factor in the development of atrophic gastritis during gastric acid inhibition.