A histological study was performed in order to evaluate the prevalence of Campylobacter-like organisms (CLO) and gastric antral lesions in 85 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients using NSAIDs, and in 100 nonrheumatoid outpatients comparable in terms of sex and age, not using NSAIDs. Histological evidence of gastritis was a common finding both in RA patients (88.2%) and in nonrheumatoid outpatients (89.0%). On the other hand, CLO were detected in a significantly lower proportion (p < 0.001) of RA patients than outpatients (30.6 and 59.0%, respectively). Considering each NSAID used separately (aspirin, diclofenac sodium and ketoprofen), no significant difference in the presence of CLO in the three groups was found; in the small group of patients treated with aspirin, however, bacteria were never detected. MICs of each NSAID used against 15 isolates of Campylobacter pylori were also determined.

Aims-To identify distinguishing and general histological features related to the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID). Methods-Slides from gastric antral biopsies of 50 patients with osteoarthritis taking NSAID were compared with slides from antral biopsies of 50 control cases matched for age, sex, and race. Semithin sections stained with toluidine blue were used. Results-Chronic gastritis was seen in 76% of the patients taking NSAID and in 58% of the control cases; active inflammation was detected in 10% of the NSAID treated patients and in 24% of the control cases, and it appeared closely related with Helicobacter pylori infection. Some histological features common to all slides of patients taking NSAID were recognised. These consisted of focal erosions of the gastric epithelium and macroerosions, and they seemed to represent successive steps of a process of "desquamation". Conclusions-Some distinguishing morphological aspects appeared prominent; it is suggested that these may be related to the pathogenesis of NSAID linked peptic ulceration. On the other hand, epithelial damage due to NSAID appears very different from that due to Helicobacter pyloni, another important factor involved in the aetiopathogenesis of peptic disease. (3 Clin Pathol 1995;48:553-555) Keywords: Helicobacter pyloni, gastric mucosa, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), widely used agents with a two billion dollar world market,' are closely linked to gastric bleeding and gastric peptic ulceration2 and are the most frequent cause of adverse reaction to medication.3 These drugs are considered by others 4 and by us6 to be one of the most important factors in peptic ulceration, together with Helicobacter pylon and cigarette smoking. According to our previous findings, however, these factors may play different and independent pathogenic roles in peptic disease, and NSAID might also have a protective effect against H pylon. Furthermore, while NSAID mainly induce ulcerations in the stomach,7 H pylon induces ulcers mainly in the duodenal bulb,' and a meta-analysis of controlled studies has shown that duodenal ulcerations due to NSAID are much more easily prevented than gastric ulcerations by using H2 receptor blocking agents.9 Since knowledge concerning the histology of the gastric mucosa in NSAID treated patients is not clear and often discordant, we have examined the histological lesions in 50 patients with osteoarthritis taking NSAID for 15-30 days and compared the findings with those in 50 subjects not taking NSAID. MethodsWe examined slides from 50 outpatients with osteoarthritis taking NSAID for 15-30 days (28 males and 22 females; age range 24-79 years, mean age 51), and from 50 control outpatients undergoing endoscopy for symptoms referable to the upper gastrointestinal tract and not taking NSAID who were matched for age, sex, and race (28 males and 22 females; age range 25-76 years, mean age 50). None of the patients studied drank alcohol or took other drugs known...