Sporadic fundic gland polyps are not associated with proton pump inhibitors therapy but negatively correlate with Helicobacter pylori infection in China

Abstract

Background Sporadic fundic gland polyps (FGPs) are common gastric polyps. Some studies reported that FGPs dramatically increased due to proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) use and a decreased prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in Western countries. However, data are still controversial. This study aimed to identify the relationships between these two factors and FGPs in China. Methods Consecutive patients with FGPs detected were retrospectively analyzed. Data including patients’ age, sex, symptoms, H. pylori infection, history of PPIs use, and the polyps were documented. Each patient was compared with two randomly selected age- and sex-matched controls with similar symptoms in the same period. Results During the period from March 2011 to March 2012, a total of 328 patients were diagnosed as FGPs in 23 047 patients who underwent routine esophagogastroduodenoscopy and 656 patients without FGPs as controls. The mean age was (55.12±12.61) years, and 75.91% were women. The prevalence of H. pylori in patients with FGPs was significantly lower than in those without FGPs (22.30% (64/287) vs. 42.26% (224/530), P <0.001, OR 0.392, 95% Cl 0.283–0.544). Overall, a total of 54 patients with FGPs (54/328, 16.46%) and 136 patients without FGPs (136/656, 20.73%) received PPIs therapy (P=0.110). According to the different duration of PPIs use, no significant differences of PPIs use were found between the cases and controls among all subgroups. Moreover, the PPIs use was also similar, regardless of age, sex, H. pylori infection, and the number of polyps. Conclusion Sporadic FGPs may not be induced by PPIs therapy but negatively correlate with H. pylori infection in China, which is not the same with the data in Western countries.