F. Luzza et al., Helicobacter pylori infection in children with celiac disease: Prevalence and clinicopathologic features, J PED GASTR, 28(2), 1999, pp. 143-146
Citations number
14
Categorie Soggetti
Pediatrics,"Medical Research General Topics
Journal title
JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC GASTROENTEROLOGY AND NUTRITION
Background: Celiac disease is frequently associated with chronic gastritis,
Helicobacter pylori is the main etiologic agent of chronic gastritis. The
aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of H. pylori, the related sy
mptoms, and the endoscopic and histologic gastric features in children with
celiac disease.
Methods: Eight-one (24 boys, 57 girls; age range: 1.4-17.7 years, median 6.
8) children with celiac disease were studied. All children had a blood samp
le taken. In a subgroup of 30 children who underwent endoscopy, three gastr
ic biopsy specimens were taken for histology (hematoxylin and eosin, Giemsa
, immunohistochemistry) and urease quick test. Symptom complaints were reco
rded. Age- and sex-matched (one case, one control) children without celiac
disease were used for comparison. son. Serum H. pylori IgG were measured by
means of a locally validated commercial enzyme-linked immunoassay.
Results: Overall, 15 of 81 (18.5%) children with celiac disease and 14 of 8
1 (17.3%) control children were positive for H. pylori. The percentage of H
. pylori positivity was similar in children with untreated and treated celi
ac disease. Recurrent abdominal pain was the only symptom that helped to di
stinguish between H. pylori-positive and H. pylori-negative children. Howev
er, symptoms disappeared in patients with celiac disease after gluten withd
rawal, irrespective of H. pylori status. All endoscopic (erythema, nodulari
ty) and histologic (superficial-, interstitial-, lymphocytic-gastritis, act
ivity, lymphoid follicles) findings did not differ between celiac and nonce
liac H. pylori-positive children.
Conclusions: Prevalence and clinical expressivity of H. pylori infection is
not increased in children with celiac disease. The clinicopathologic patte
rn of the infection is not specifically influenced in this condition.