Effects ofHelicobacter pylorieradication on atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia: A 3-year follow-up study

n a t ro p h i c g a s t r i t i s a n d i n t e s t i n a l metaplasia (IM). METHODS:Two hundred and fifty-nine patients with atrophic gastritis in the antrum were included in the study, 154 patients were selected for H pylori eradication therapy and the remaining 105 patients served as untreated group.Gastroscopy and biopsies were performed both at the beginning and at the end of a 3-year follow-up study.Gastritis was graded according to the updated Sydney system. RESULTS:One hundred and seventy-nine patients completed the follow-up, 92 of them received H pylori eradication therapy and the remaining 87 H pyloriinfected patients were in the untreated group.Chronic gastritis, active gastritis and the grade of atrophy significantly decreased in H pylori eradication group (P <0.01).However, the grade of IM increased in H pylori -infected group (P <0.05).CONCLUSION: H pylori eradication may improve gastric mucosal inflammation, atrophy and prevent the progression of IM.