Seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection is not increased in pediatric inflammatory arthritides.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the seroprevalence of H. pylori infection among children with inflammatory arthritides receiving antiinflammatory drug therapy.


METHODS
An enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect H. pylori specific immunoglobulin G antibody in 95 children with inflammatory arthritides, 53 children with chronic inflammatory bowel diseases and 47 parents of children with inflammatory arthritis.


RESULTS
The frequency of seropositivity in children with arthritis (9/95, 9.5%) was not significantly higher than in children with chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (1/53, 1.9%; p = 0.16). Serum samples from parents were positive in 16 of 47 (34%), including 4 parents with children who also demonstrated a positive immune response.


CONCLUSIONS
These data do not provide evidence for an increased frequency of H. pylori infection among children with inflammatory arthritides. The therapeutic use of ulcerogenic medications is likely to be an independent risk factor predisposing to dyspeptic symptoms and gastritis in this patient population.
Shabib
S
S
Division of Gastroenterology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Laxer
R
R
Silverman
E
E
Perez-Perez
G
G
Blaser
M
M
Sherman
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D001168:Arthritis / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G