ERADICATION THERAPY OF HELICOBACTER PYLORI FOR LOW-GRADE MUCOSA-ASSOCIATED LYMPHOID TISSUE LYMPHOMAS OF THE STOMACH
T. Hiyama1,K. Haruma1, Y. Kitadai2, S. Tanaka2, M. Yoshihara3, K. Sumii1, F. Shimamoto4, G. Kajiyama1
1First Department of Internal Medicine, Hiroshima University School of Medicine, Hiroshima, Japan 2Department of Endoscopy, Hiroshima University Medical Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan 3Health Service Center, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan 4Department of Anatomical Pathology, Hiroshima University Medical Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan
Abstract. The purpose of this study was to clarify the clinical features and outcomes of eradication therapy of Helicobacter pylori in low-grade mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphomas of the stomach. Clinical features, including age, sex, tumor size, and endoscopic appearance and outcome, were evaluated. Ten patients were treated with proton-pomp inhibitor-based Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy for 1 or 2 weeks, and followed by endoscopic examinations with biopsy sampling. Helicobacter pylori infection was observed in 9 of 10 (90%) cases. After Helicobacter pylori eradication, patients were observed for a median of 19 months (range, 4–49 months). Seven patients showed complete regression, 2 showed partial regression and 1 showed no change in the lymphoma. One patient, who was originally Helicobacter pylori-negative, had a local relapse 16 months after eradication. No association was found between any clinical features and outcome. This study shows that the eradication of Helicobacter pylori causes regression of low-grade mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphomas of the stomach, and that Helicobacter pylori eradication treatment should be given for the lymphomas as first-line therapy. However, the clinical features did not seem to be useful for predicting tumors that would or would not respond to the eradication therapy.
