Biochemical and histopathological aspects in duodenogastric reflux gastritis patients with or without prior cholecystectomy

The aim of this study was to evaluate some biochemical and histopathological aspects in a group of patients with a view to identifying any differences depending on whether the pathology was associated with previous cholecystectomy or idiopathic. The study involved 23 patients (8 post-cholecystectomy cases and 15 ulcer-free dyspeptic patients) with the diagnosis of duodenogastric reflux gastritis confirmed by endoscopic histopathological evaluation. The following parameters were considered: 1. pH and bile salt concentration in gastric juice; 2. histological classification of antral biopsies (Niemela's criteria); 3. dyspeptic symptoms (dyspepsia, pyrosis and epigastric pain, sense of repletion, foul-tasting mouth) graded on a scale from 0 to 4. All parameters were considered in relation to whether or not Helicobacter Pylori was found in the histological specimens. No significant differences were found between the two groups for pH and bile salt values or for Helicobacter Pylori positivity. No relationship was observed between the Helicobacter Pylori and either the severity of the histological picture, the features of the biochemical parameters or the severity of the clinical symptoms. Such findings confirm the common pathophysiological pattern of reflux gastritis regardless of any permanent biliary tract alterations and the low importance of Helicobacter Pylori infection in determining this syndrome.