Helicobacter pylori is a risk factor for colonic neoplasms

Amnon Sonnenberg, Robert M. Genta

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

130 Scopus citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:It has been suggested that Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) constitutes a risk for the development of adenomatous polyps and adenocarcinoma of the colon. Our aim was to study the association between H. pylori-positive gastritis and the occurrence of any colonic neoplasm.METHODS:From a computerized database of surgical pathology reports, we selected 156,000 subjects who underwent colonoscopy and esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy with biopsy results from both procedures.RESULTS:Compared with normal gastric mucosa, H. pylori gastritis occurred more frequently among patients with hyperplastic polyps (OR=1.24, 95% CI: 1.18-1.30), adenomatous polyps (1.52, 1.46-1.57), advanced adenomas (1.80, 1.69-1.92), villous adenomas or adenomas with high-grade dysplasia (1.97, 1.82-2.14), and adenocarcinomas (2.35, 1.98-2.80). Similarly, the strength of the association between H. pylori-positive gastritis and colonic neoplasm increased with size and number of the adenomas. The association between H. pylori gastritis and the occurrence of colonic neoplasm was similar for different locations of the large bowel. Other gastric conditions etiologically associated with H. pylori, such as intestinal metaplasia, adenoma, lymphoma, and adenocarcinoma, were also significantly associated with an increased risk of colonic neoplasm.CONCLUSIONS:Various forms of gastritis related to H. pylori infection confer an increased risk for colonic neoplasm. In the past, when H. pylori infection was more prevalent, its attributable risk to the occurrence of colorectal neoplasm may have been quite substantial.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)208-215
Number of pages8
JournalAmerican Journal of Gastroenterology
Volume108
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1 2013

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Hepatology
  • Gastroenterology

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