Helicobacter pylori seropositivity in children with atopic dermatitis as sole manifestation of food allergy

A positive association between Helicobacter pylori antibodies and food alle rgy presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms has recently been reported. A subset of a H. pylori strain possesses an antigen, CagA, as a virulence fa ctor. Anti-H. pylori and anti-CagA IgG titre have been determined in childr en with atopic dermatitis (AD) as the sole clinical manifestation of food a llergy. In this study, thirty patients with AD as the sole clinical manifes tation of food allergy were examined (group A). For comparative purposes, 3 0 patients affected by food allergy with gastrointestinal symptoms (group B ) and 30 affected by atopic asthma (group C) were studied. Anti-H. pylori a nd anti-CagA immunoglobulin G (IgG) were determined in all individuals by m eans of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The anti-H. pylori IgG titre was significantly higher in group A and group B vs. group C (p < 0.05); no significant difference was detected between group A and group B (p > 0.05) . No significant difference in anti-CagA titre was found between the groups . These data demonstrate a positive association between H. pylori antibodie s and AD as the sole manifestation of food allergy. Further investigations are needed to evaluate the cause-effect relationship between H. pylori sero positivity and AD.