Brief Article
Copyright ©2009 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Oct 21, 2009; 15(39): 4928-4931
Published online Oct 21, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.4928
Helicobacter pylori infection and gastropathy: A comparison between Indonesian and Japanese patients
Murdani Abdullah, Hiroyuki Ohtsuka, Abdul Aziz Rani, Tadashi Sato, Ari F Syam, Masayuki A Fujino
Murdani Abdullah, Abdul Aziz Rani, Ari F Syam, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine University of Indonesia, Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta 10430, Indonesia
Hiroyuki Ohtsuka, Tadashi Sato, Masayuki A Fujino, First Department of Medicine, Yamanashi Medical University, 4-4-37 Takeda, Kofu, Yamanashi 400-8510, Japan
Author contributions: Abdullah M, Ohtsuka H, Rani AA, Sato T, Syam AF, and Fujino MA contributed equally to this work.
Correspondence to: Murdani Abdullah, MD, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine University of Indonesia, Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jalan Diponegoro No. 71, Jakarta 10430, Indonesia. murdani@cbn.net.id
Telephone: +62-21-3153957 Fax: +62-21-3142454
Received: August 5, 2009
Revised: August 31, 2009
Accepted: September 7, 2009
Published online: October 21, 2009
Abstract

AIM: To compare the effects of Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection on gastropathy between Indonesian and Japanese patients.

METHODS: Biopsy specimens were obtained during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy from 167 subjects (125 Indonesians and 42 Japanese) with uninvestigated symptoms of dyspepsia. The specimens were analyzed for the presence of H pylori using urease analysis, histopathology, and cell culture. The grade and activity of gastritis was assessed using the updated Sydney system.

RESULTS: The percentages of Indonesian and Japanese patients who were H pylori-positive at the antrum or body of the stomach were similar (68% and 59.5%, respectively; P = 0.316). Of those who were H pylori-positive, more Japanese patients than Indonesian patients had high levels of polymorphonuclear cells (P = 0.001), mononuclear cells (P = 0.013), glandular atrophy (P = 0.000), and intestinal metaplasia (P = 0.011) in both the antrum and body of the stomach.

CONCLUSION: The grade of gastritis and prevalence of mucosal atrophy and intestinal metaplasia were higher in Japanese patients. The difference between Indonesian and Japanese patients was significant.

Keywords: Helicobacter pylori; Gastritis; Gastric cancer; Intestinal metaplasia; Atrophy