Helicobacter pylori in Gastric biopsy: A Histochemical and Immunohistochemical Assessment

Background: Helicobacter species pylori represent one of the medically prominent and most common infections in the world. Contamination with this microbe has set as a causal factor in the development of gastritis, peptic ulcer, and gastric neoplasia. Consequently, prompt diagnosis is essential. Objectives: This study was conveyed to detect H.pylori in gastric biopsies specimens by using routine Hematoxylin, Modified Giemsa dye as well as immunohistochemical stain, besides to assess the specificity and sensitivity of Helicobacter microbe detection in each method. Patients and methods:The research was both prospective and retrospective, carried out on 100 cases of endoscopically obtained gastric biopsies. Data obtained from archives of the pathology department, at AL-Jamhuri Teaching Hospital, Mosul city, and collected in a period spanning from April 2013 to March 2014. The information included; Age, sex, gastric biopsy location, inflammation status, the presence of dysplasia or carcinoma. Helicobacter pylori infection was assessed histochemically and immunohistochemically. Results: In a total of 100 gastric samples, patients’ age range was 11 to 82 years (mean age of 46.5 years), with a male to female ratio of 1.38:1. Helicobacter pylori bacilli were positive with H&E/MGS in 71 (71%) of cases, increased to 75 (75%) case with IHC. Chronic gastritis noticed in 85 biopsy specimens, 74% were positive for H.pylori. There was a statistically significant difference between IHC and H&E/MGS (p=0.04) for detection of H.pylori. The sensibility and specificity of the H&E/MGS were measured compared with the recommended standard sensitive and specific IHC test; they were 95% and 100% respectively. Conclusion: The routine ancillary stains request for the detection of H.pylori remains a laboratory and an institution right. This study revealed that, in our laboratory, the regular application of ancillary dyes is not obliged for the description of H.pylori because it was readily recognizable in the bulk of sections with haematoxylin staining. However, we recommend the use of IHC in specific circumstances.