[Interleukin-8 levels in gastric biopsies of children colonized by Helicobacter pylori].
BACKGROUND
Helicobacter pylori produces a gastric mucosal inflammation characterized by neutrophil infiltration, due to the liberation of interleukin-8.


OBJECTIVE
To measure interleukin-8 levels in gastric mucosa samples from children colonized by H. pylori.


METHODS
Thirty one children that required an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for diagnostic purpose were studied. Antral biopsies were obtained for pathological study, H. pylori detection using CLO-test and interleukin-8 determination by ELISA.


RESULTS
Nine children were not infected with H. pylori. Of these, six had a pathologically normal gastric mucosa and three had a mild chronic gastritis. Twenty two children were infected by H. pylori and all had a chronic gastritis with activity signs in 13. Mucosal interleukin-8 was higher in infected than in non infected children (59.7 (range 6.1-379.7) and 15.8 (range 3.9-104.1) pg/mg respectively p = 0.029). Colonized children with an active chronic gastritis had higher interleukin-8 levels than those with inactive gastritis (84.4 (range 33.3-379.0) and 26.8 (range 6.1-372.6) pg/ml respectively p = 0.04).


CONCLUSIONS
Stomach colonization by H. pylori is associated with higher mucosal levels of interleukin-8. This phenomenon probably plays a role in the genesis and intensity of gastric mucosal inflammation in children.
Chávez
E
E
Departamento de Anatomía Patológica, Hospital Clínico San Borja-Arriarán.
Sarmiento
F
F
López
M
M
Kakarieka
E
E
Vial
M T
MT
Gotteland
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D001706:Biopsy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D005756:Gastritis / Q000378:metabolism*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000378:metabolism*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male
D016209:Interleukin-8
Niveles de interleuquina-8 en biopsias gástricas de niños colonizados por Helicobacter pylori.