Clinical and pathological importance of cagA-positive Helicobacter pylori strains in children with abdominal complaints.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori strains possessing cytotoxin-associated gene A (cagA) in children and the intensity of clinical complaints and morphological changes of the gastric mucosa.


METHODS
A group of 80 children with gastrointestinal complaints was included in this study. Pathologists examined mucosal biopsy specimens from these patients. The urease test and multiplex polymerase chain reaction (MPCR) were used to identify H. pylori strains.


RESULTS
In the group of children infected with cagA-positive H. pylori strains, fourth-degree gastritis was more frequent than in the group with cagA-negative H. pylori colonization. In histopathological assessment, infection with cagA-positive H. pylori was associated also with higher grades of inflammatory intensity and activity.


CONCLUSIONS
Marked inflammation of the antral mucosa was significantly more frequent in children infected with cagA-positive H. pylori than in those infected with cagA-negative H. pylori, as assessed endoscopically and histopathologically. No specific symptoms for cagA-positive and cagA-negative H. pylori infection were observed.
Korzon
M
M
Department of Paediatrics, Gastroenterology, and Paediatric Oncology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Poland. kids@amedac.amg.gda.pl
Sikorska-Wiśniewska
G
G
Jankowski
Z
Z
Kur
J
J
Banach
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C080866:cagA protein, Helicobacter pylori