An unusual presentation of Helicobacter pylori infection: so-called "Russell body gastritis"

Virchows Arch. 2005 Apr;446(4):463-6. doi: 10.1007/s00428-005-1215-5. Epub 2005 Mar 3.

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a "slow" bacterial pathogen, which induces several gastroduodenal diseases. Varying degrees of inflammation can be present in the gastric mucosa of patients infected with H. pylori. The case presented here is a male patient suffering from dyspepsia and nausea. His upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed pan gastritis. Histological examination of multiple gastric biopsies taken from the body and antrum showed a rare morphological expression of H. pylori gastritis characterized by diffuse plasma cell infiltration with extensive Russell body formation. Diffuse infiltration of plasma cells with Russell bodies in gastric mucosa can cause difficulties in differentiation from neoplastic processes. However, immunohistochemically, the infiltrating cells in the gastric mucosa stained negatively with cytokeratins while they expressed both kappa and lambda light chains showing their polyclonal nature. The presence of diffuse plasma cells with Russell bodies in the gastric mucosa may represent a different presentation of H. pylori gastritis. There are only two case reports of similar presentation and both have been called "Russell body gastritis".

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Gastric Mucosa / metabolism
  • Gastric Mucosa / microbiology
  • Gastric Mucosa / pathology*
  • Gastritis / metabolism
  • Gastritis / microbiology
  • Gastritis / pathology*
  • Helicobacter Infections / metabolism
  • Helicobacter Infections / pathology*
  • Helicobacter pylori* / isolation & purification
  • Helicobacter pylori* / physiology
  • Humans
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / analysis
  • Immunoglobulin Light Chains / analysis
  • Inclusion Bodies / metabolism
  • Inclusion Bodies / pathology
  • Keratins / metabolism
  • Male
  • Plasma Cells / metabolism
  • Plasma Cells / pathology

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains
  • Immunoglobulin Light Chains
  • Keratins