Prevalence of barrett's esophagus, its relationship with chronic Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis, atrophy and metaplasia of gastric mucosa

Abstract

The aim - to identify the frequency of Helicobacter pylori infection, atrophic and metaplastic changes in the gastric mucosa in patients with Barrett's esophagus.
 Materials and methods. A retrospective study of 7392 cases of complex esophagogastroscopy with a biopsy of the epithelium of the mucous membrane of the esophagus and stomach, followed by a morphological study, was conducted on the basis of the Medical Centre “Oberig” clinic for the period 2010-2018. Statistical data was performed using the MedStat package. To assess the prevalence of changes in the esophagus and stomach, a 95% confidence interval was calculated using the Fisher angular transformation method. The probability of differences between group averages and relative values ​​was determined using the method of parametric statistics by calculating the t-Student criterion. The difference between the average values ​​was considered significant at p <0.05. To compare the frequencies in different groups, the Pearson chi-square test was used.
 Results. Endoscopically cylindrical columnar metaplasia of the esophagus epithelium was detected in 2994 patients (40.5% CI 39.4% -41.6% at a significance level of p = 0.05). In a histological examination, esophageal epithelial metaplasia was confirmed in 2910 patients (39.4% CI 38.3%-40.5%). 876 cases of gastric-type esophagus epithelial metaplasia were diagnosed (30.1%, CI 28.4-31.5%); 2034 cases of intestinal type metaplasia (69.9%, CI 68.2-71.6%). Histological examination of biopsy samples of the gastric mucosa in 5640 (76.3%, CI 75.3-77.3%) patients revealed atrophy of the gastric mucosa. In 2532 cases (34.3%, CI 33.2-35.3%), complete and incomplete intestinal metaplasia of the gastric epithelium was diagnosed. In 4524 (61.2%, CI 60.1-62.3%) patients, Helicobacter pylori was detected. In the presence of H. pylori, gastric esophageal epithelial metaplasia was detected in 510 of 3558 (14.3%, CI 13.2-15.5%, p = 0.05), intestinal metaplasia of the esophagus epithelium - in 966 of 4014 (24.1% CI 22.8 -25.4%, p = 0.05).
 Conclusion. Esophageal epithelial metaplasia is a common pathology, accounting for 39.4% among patients who underwent esophagogastroscopy. The presence of a strong connection between intestinal metaplasia of the epithelium of the esophagus and atrophy of the gastric mucosa with intestinal metaplasia of the epithelium of the stomach was found. Esophageal epithelial metaplasia is significantly less common with Helicobacter pylori gastritis, therefore the presence of H. pylori has a protective effect on the occurrence of esophageal epithelial metaplasia.