The Role of Herpes simplex and Helicobacter pylori Infection in the Etiology of Persistent or Recurrent Gastric Erosions: A Follow-Up Study

The etiology of chronic gastric erosions is unknown. We have evaluated the significance of Helicobacter pylori and herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections, the use of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), alcohol, and smoking in a prospective long term follow-up study. A prospective series of 117 patients with gastric erosions and 117 controls were studied in 1974–1981, and invited for reendoscopy in 1996. At both visits, H. pylori infection was diagnosed by histology, serum HSV antibodies were measured, and the use of NSAIDs, alcohol, and smoking was evaluated by interview. Biopsies from erosions from the latter visit were studied for HSV by immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In the follow-up visit, 16 of 42 patients had still gastric erosions while six of 47 controls had developed erosions. No HSV antigen or DNA could be detected in biopsy specimens. However, only high antibody titers (≥32) against HSV at the first visit predicted persistence of erosions (P = 0.000), while H. pylori infection, use of NSAIDs, alcohol, or smoking were not associated with chronic erosions. High HSV titers at the follow-up visit were also significantly associated with concurrent erosions in the patient group. In conclusion, the results suggest that a significant proportion of chronic gastric erosions are related to HSV infection.