title: Helicobacter pylori cagA genotype and density of colonization in relation to gastric inflammation in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the relationship between density determined by quantitative culture, status, and gastric histology in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children with clinical symptoms indicating pathology in the upper gastrointestinal tract were referred for endoscopy. From each child blood was taken for serology, and antral biopsies were obtained for quantitative culture of and histology. Histological assessment was performed according to the updated Sydney System. The status of cultured was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and serum IgG response to CagA by western blotting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adequate antral biopsies were obtained from 41 children with positive cultures. CagA IgG antibodies were found in 27 patients (66%), 25 of whom were also positive by the PCR. Two children infected with + strains as determined by the PCR were CagA seronegative. Infection with + strains was associated with significantly higher activity of inflammation and denser bacterial colonization in the antrum compared to negative strains. No correlation was observed between the density of colonization and chronic antral inflammation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that infection of children with + strains of is associated with enhanced activity of antral inflammation and higher density of colonization. There is a good correlation between serum western blot and bacterial PCR positivity in determining status and a positive relationship between histology and quantitative culture in assessing density in paediatric patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Children's Memorial Health Institute, Aleja Dzieci Polskich 20, 04-736 Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dzierzanowska-Fangrat
authors.forename: Jean E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Crabtree
authors.forename: Elzbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rozynek
authors.forename: Wiesław
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dura
authors.forename: Danuta
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Celiñska-Cedro
authors.forename: Urszula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wojda
authors.forename: Danuta
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dzierzanowska
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology; D005756:Gastritis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005838:Genotype; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D011706:Pyloric Antrum / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C080866:cagA protein, Helicobacter pylori