RESOLUTION OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI-ASSOCIATED GASTRIC LYMPHOPROLIFERATIVE DISEASE IN A CHILD

A possible causative association between Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric lymphoproliferative disorders has recently been recognize d, The case of a 14-year-old girl who was diagnosed with H. pylori gas tritis and associated gastric lymphoproliferative disease of the low-g rade mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue type is reported. The patient w as treated only for the H. pylori infection (amoxicillin, bismuth, and metronidazole) without any adjuvant chemotherapy or surgery for her l ymphoproliferative disorder, This treatment not only resulted in the e radication of the microorganism but also complete resolution of her ly mphoproliferative disease. The patient was subsequently followed up fo r a period of 7 years, There has been no histological recurrence of H. pylori gastritis or gastric lymphoproliferative disease. It is believ ed that this is the first report to describe a long-term follow-up of an H. pylori-associated gastric lymphoproliferative disorder in a pedi atric patient who was exclusively treated for H. pylori infection, The observations in this report suggest that H. pylori-associated low-gra de gastric lymphoproliferative disease can be completely cured by erad icating the organism. Therefore, this therapeutic approach, combined w ith close follow-up, should be the treatment of choice in children wit h this associated condition before attempting more aggressive treatmen ts, thus potentially avoiding chemotherapy and/or (partial) gastrectom y.