Prevalence of intestinal metaplasia and its relation to Helicobacter pylori infection in Iraq

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of intestinal metaplasia and its relation to H. Pylori infection, gastric atrophy, ulcer, age and gender in patients underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy and gastric biopsy for upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Method: 200 gastric biopsy blocks examined for patients underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and gastric biopsy, between January 2019 October 2020 at Gastroenterology and hepatology Hospital / Medical city / Baghdad / Iraq. Result: (67.5%) of patients examined in the study had H. pylori infection, while (20.5%) of the total number patients in the study had gastric intestinal metaplasia. There was significant association between Intestinal metaplasia with both active chronic inflammation and intestinal atrophy but there was no significant association between Intestinal metaplasia with both ulcer and H. pylori infection. Conclusion: gastric intestinal metaplasia encountered more in old age male patients with gastric atrophy and it is not solely related to h pylori, other risk factors could be responsible for it.