INTESTINAL METAPLASIA WITH COLONIC‐TYPE SULPHOMUCINS IN THE GASTRIC MUCOSA; ITS ASSOCIATION WITH GASTRIC CARCINOMA

Abstract

The occurrence of intestinal metaplasia with colonic-type sulfomucins: (s-IM) in the gastric mucosa was studied in 125 patients with gastric carcinoma (GCA), 62 patients with pernicious anemia (PA), 301 and 183 1st-degree relatives of GCA and PA patients, respectively, 406 outpatients and in 358 controls matched from a large population sample. The sulfomucins (s-mucins) were demonstrated histochemically in endoscopic biopsy specimens by using high iron diamine and Alcian blue (pH 1) methods. The prevalence of s-IM, especially the strongly s-positive IM, was significantly higher in GCA patients than in other series or controls of the same age group. s-IM was significantly more common in PA patients and its prevalence higher in GCA relatives and outpatients than in other series or controls. The occurrence of s-IM was also age-dependent and dependent on the extent of IM. The occurrence of s-IM apparently can be used as a sign of lesions that are more closely associated with GCA than IM is in general.