Assessment of helicobacter pylori colonization in patients with duodenogastric reflux: A retrospective study

INTRODUCTION: This study investigates the relationship between duodenogastric reflux (DGR), Helicobacter pylori (HP) colonization, and their impact on gastric health. Given the established risks of both DGR and HP for gastric mucosal damage and the development of pre-cancerous lesions, we aimed to explore their interrelation and the effect of bile reflux on HP colonization in an acidic environment.
METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients who underwent gastroscopy at our hospital between December 2022 and December 2023. DGR diagnosis was based on the endoscopic observation of bile-stained fluid or reflux, while HP presence was confirmed via giemsa staining of biopsy samples. Statistical analysis utilized SPSS software, with significance set at p<.05.
RESULTS: Out of 4.316 gastroscopies performed, 743 patients were identified with DGR, and HP positivity was found in 34.9% of the cohort. Comparison of HP infection rates between patients with and without DGR revealed no significant difference, indicating the independent nature of these conditions regarding gastric colonization.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: HP and DGR synergistically inflict damage on the gastric mucosa. However, consistent with the existing literature, our study also demonstrates that, although both DGR and HP infection are significant risk factors for gastric mucosal injury independently, there is no observed association between HP colonization and DGR. Given the complexity of the gastric mucosal structure and its acidic environment, we believe further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms of these relationships.