Preneoplastic gastric lesions in patients with Helicobacter pylori

Introduction: Helicobacter pylori is the main risk factor for the development of chronic atrophic gastritis and intestinal-type gastric cancer. Objective: Identify preneoplastic gastric lesions in patients with Helicobacter pylori. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out, which included 167 patients with Helicobacter pylori infection, diagnosed by endoscopy with gastric biopsy in the antrum and body (anterior and posterior sides) and in the angular notch. The variables included were: Helicobacter pylori infection and preneoplastic gastric lesions. Absolute frequency and percentage were used as summary measures for qualitative variables. To evaluate the association between qualitative variables, the chi-square test (χ2) was applied, with a level of statistical significance p≤ 0,05. Development: Of 167 patients evaluated, 150 (89,82 %) had gastric atrophy, 42 (25,14 %) intestinal metaplasia, and 66 (39,52 %) low-grade dysplasia. No patients with high-grade dysplasia were found. Moderate chronic gastritis prevailed (83; 49,7 %). Of the 22 patients in stage III, 17 (10,2 %) had severe chronic gastritis. Lymphoepithelial reaction was found in 138 (83 %) patients with gastric atrophy. Conclusions: Gastric atrophy is the most common preneoplastic lesion in patients with Helicobacter pylori and non-advanced stages of it predominate. Intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia occur less frequently.