Mast cells are known to initiate and regulate the inflammation. In few recent repors it is shown that mast cells are increased in the chronic gastritic mucosa. In the present study it is aimed to search the relation between Helicobacter pylori gastritis and the mast cells.

Study group included endoscopic biopsy materials from 50 Helicobacter pylori positive and 35 Helicobacter pylori negative gastritis. Presence of Helicobacter pylori microorganisms and mast cell density were detected on Giemsa stained preparetions. Inflammation and activation were also graded and searched for their relation with mast cell density.

It was seen that mast cell density was higher in Helicobacter pylori positive gastric mucosa than the Helicobacter pylori negative gastric mucosa (p<0.001). In addition, an increase in the mast cell density was seen with the increasing severity of int1ammation. These findings support the opinion that mast cells can be one of the important factors in the pathogenesis of Helicobacter pylori positive gastritis.