The relation of reflux esophagitis and H. pylori infection

Objective To compare the pathological changes of gastric mucosa and infection of H.pylori in different severity grades of RE.Methods 178 patients with reflux esophagitis were enrolled who were diagnosed by gastroscopy in our centers from Jan.to Jun.in 2007.The severity grade of EE was according to Los Angles standard.All the patients received biopsies from gastric body and antrum,then received pathologic examinations.Pathological changes were compared:prevalence,density and pattern of colonization of H.pylori infection;2 types(superficial and atrophic) and activity of gastritis of gastric mucosa in different severity grades of RE.Results(1)Patients with severe esophagitis were older than those with mild esophagitis.(2)In patients with severe esophagitis,the prevalence and density of H.pylori,the degree of inflammation in gastric antrum were significantly lower than those with mild esophagitis(P=0.002,P=0.002,P=0.003,respectively),but the prevalence and density of H.pylori,the degree of inflammation in gastric body were not different statistically from those with mild esophagitis(P=0.106,P=0.071,P=0.427,respectively).Conclusion H.pylori infection has an inverse correlation with the formation of RE;The more severe the RE is,the lower the degree of inflammation in gastric antrum is.