Composition of inflammatory infiltrate in the gastric mucosa of patients with food and airborne allergies

Abstract

Introduction. The aim of this study was to analyze the composition of inflammatory infiltrate in the gastric mucosa of patients with food and airborne allergies. Patients and methods. This study included 80 subjects: 30 patients with food allergy, 30 patients with airborne allergy, as well as 20 healthy, allergy-free individuals. Gastroscopy was performed in all patients and gastric mucosal biopsies were taken for histopathological examination that included the assessment of Helicobacter pylori infection status and the presence of eosinophils within the inflammatory infiltrate. Results. Eosinophils were revealed in the biopsies of gastric mucosa originating from 12 (40%) food allergy patients, eight (27%) individuals with airborne allergy, and two controls. Compared to the controls, patients with food allergies were characterized by significantly higher prevalence of eosinophilic infiltrates (p=0.0206); there were no other significant intergroup differences in regards to this parameter. Colonization with Helicobacter pylori was confirmed in 9 (30%) subjects with food allergy, 6 (20%) individuals with airborne allergy, and in 10 (50%) controls. These three groups did not differ significantly in terms of HP colonization rates. Conclusions. Compared to the controls, patients with food allergy were characterized by a significantly higher prevalence of eosinophils within inflammatory infiltrate. No significant differences in regards to this parameter were documented between food and airborne allergy patients as well as between individuals with airborne allergy and the controls. Colonization of gastric mucosa with Helicobacter pylori was less frequent amongst airborne (20%) and food allergy patients (30%) than the controls (50%).