title: Helicobacter pylori-associated large gastric ulcer during treatment for childhood leukemia.
abstract: During treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, serious gastrointestinal complications rarely occur in children. Helicobacter pylori is not known as a pathogen causing peptic ulcer in children with leukemia who are receiving chemotherapy. We describe a 14-year-old girl with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in whom, during the most aggressive part of treatment, a large, life-threatening H. pylori-associated gastric ulcer developed. H. pylori infection played a role in the origin of the ulcer, as confirmed by the clinical resolution after its specific treatment. This case points to a possible role for H. pylori as a pathogen in children with leukemia who have either evident or occult gastrointestinal bleeding.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, G. Gaslini Children's Hospital, Largo Gerolamo Gaslini 5, 16148 Genoa, Italy. francescafioredda@ospedale-gaslini.it
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fioredda
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Haupt
authors.forename: Elio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Castagnola
authors.forename: Arrigo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barabino
authors.forename: Concetta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Micalizzi
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dini
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dufour
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011899:Ranitidine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003907:Dexamethasone; D011899:Ranitidine