Superoxide-dismutase activity of the gastric mucosa in patients with Helicobacter pylori infection.

Background: Helicobacter pylori (HP) is a pathogenic factor in the development of different alterations in the gastric mucosa. Superoxide-dismutase (SOD) is a key enzyme of mucosal antioxidant protection. We have detected changes in the activity of mucosal SOD in different diseases caused by HP.
Materials and Methods: Biopsies were taken upon gastroscopy (n = 131). Activity of SOD was measured by photometry, referred to the amount of protein in the sample.
Results: SOD activity of the antrum of HP-positive patients was significantly higher than that of HP-negative ones. There was a significant increase in erosive gastritis.
Conclusion: In the presence of HP there was a significant increase of the SOD activity in the antrum but not in the corpus. In chronic antral gastritis there was a positive relationship between the SOD activity and both the severity and activity of inflammation. We presume that HP-associated gastritis is predominant in the antrum.