Chronic Alcoholic Gastritis

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Abstract
We assessed the relative roles of alcohol and infection withHelicobacter pyloriin the pathogenesis of chronic gastritis in alcoholic patients.Helicobacter pyloriwas found in 14 of 18 alcoholics with dyspepsia and was associated with chronic antral gastritis. Gastric biopsy specimens were normal in fourH pylori—negative alcoholics. Studies were repeated 3 to 4 weeks after controlled abstinence. There was no change in histologic findings during this period, indicating that alcohol itself was not the major causative agent. We then eliminatedH pyloriin 10 subjects by giving triple therapy (bismuth subsalicylate, amoxicillin, and metronidazole). Treatment forH pyloriwas associated with almost complete normalization of histologic findings. Four control subjects who received antacids alone showed no improvement. Dyspeptic symptoms inH pylori—positive patients significantly improved after elimination of this organism, whereas there was no change with antacid treatment. (Arch Intern Med. 1991;151:760-764)