Incidence of lymphoid aggregates and associated factors in a large gastric biopsy series

INTRODUCTION: Lymphoid aggregates (LA) in gastric biopsies have traditionally been linked to Helicobacter pylori (HP) gastritis and other inflammatory and neoplastic conditions. In the literature review on this subject, it is seen that the studies are limited and the number of patients in the studies is low. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the incidence of LA and patient’s age, gender, HP, and other gastric mucosal pathologies in pathological examinations of gastric mucosal biopsies in a large series.
METHODS: Endoscopic gastric mucosal biopsies taken from 1427 adult patients due to dyspeptic complaints were evaluated in terms of the relationship of LA with age, gender, HP, inflammation, gastric activity, and intestinal metaplasia (IM).
RESULTS: LA was associated with HP positivity, age, inflammation, activity, and IM. No relationship was found with gender.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: In our study, relatively young age, HP, and presence of inflammation were independent risk factors for lymphoid aggregates.