Quantity and Distribution of Eosinophils in the Adult Human Gastric Specimens

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: The existence of eosinophils in the gastric mucosal epithelium is unusual, while the term "eosinophilic gastritis" has become overused due to the increased numbers of eosinophils found in gastric specimens. Thus, we aimed to assess the number and distribution of eosinophils in gastric specimens in Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences hospitals. METHODS: This study was performed on 318 patients with gastric diseases who had undergone endoscopic biopsy or gastrectomy in the hospitals affiliated with Shahid Beheshti University from 2016 to 2018. By referring to the archives of pathology departments, patients' demographic and clinical information, endoscopic and histopathological findings were collected. The data was then statistically analyzed using SPSS software version 24 with a significance level of P-value< 0.05 in all tests. RESULTS: The participants were 157 men and 161 women, with an average age of 51.21 years. There was no significant correlation between eosinophil distribution and age, gender, or primary gastric locations. However, there was a strong correlation between the count of eosinophils in the lamina propria and intestinal metaplasia. Mean eosinophil count per high power field (HPF) was 12, 23, and 14 in mild, moderate, and severe degrees of intestinal metaplasia, respectively. An increase in eosinophil count was seen along with lymphoplasma cells infiltration up to 8/HPF in mild cases, 13/HPF in moderate cases, and 14/HPF in severe cases. CONCLUSION: Eosinophil counts in the lamina propria layer show a significant positive relationship with the eosinophil sheet, presence of Heliobacter pylori microorganism, intestinal metaplasia, and lymphoplasma cells infiltration.