Abstract
Recently, the association between Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) infection and primary lymphoproliferative disorders of the stomach has been reported. There are several case studies showing the healing of low-grade gastric lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) after the eradication of H. pylori. However, the treatment of MALT lymphoma is still a point of controversy. We applied the treatment for peptic ulcer using H2-blocker or proton pump inhibitor (PPI) to 3 patients with non-neoplastic lymphoid hyperplasia (so-called reactive lymphoid hyperplasia ; RLH) or low-grade MALT lymphoma.
Follow-up endoscopic examination in case 1 (RLH) still showed the same ulcerative lesion, but histological specimen showed the only inflammatory infiltration composed of plasma cells and lymphocytes. Case 2 (RLH) did not show a change for the worse not only endoscopically but also histologically. The disease in case 3 (RLH) progressed during the treatment with H2-blocker and the diagnosis of low-grade MALT lymphoma was confirmed by histological examination. After PPI was applied to the patient, endoscopic view was improved remarkably and gastric histological specimen showed the mild inflammatory reaction with almost normal mucosal architecture.
In conclusion, the treatment for peptic ulcer might be useful in treating patients with RLH or low-grade MALT lymphoma.
