Endoscopic and Pathologic Analysis of Pediatric Helicobacter pylori Gastritis

Rhee, Hi Soo; Kim, Han Seong; Jang, Ja Jung; Seo, Jeong Kee

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
The aim of this study was to investigate characteristics of childhood Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) gastritis. We analyzed the endoscopic features and histopathologic features. METHODS: Eighty children with gastritis were enrolled in this study. Forty children were H. pylori positive and another 40 children were H. pylori negative. Their histopathologic features were classified by updated Sydney system and the endoscopic findings were analyzed. These results were also compared according to age (>10 or < or =10 years). RESULTS: Density of H. pylori was positively correlated with degree of mononuclear cell infiltration (P=0.039). In children with high density of H. pylori, the mucosal damage was significantly lower in young age group (< or =10) than in old age group (P=0.04). Eighty percent of H. pylori positive cases showed nodular gastritis, while did 15% of H. pylori negative cases. Both lymphoid follicles and mononuclear cell infiltration were frequently observed in nodular gastritis (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Children with H. pylori infection showed the histopathologic features such as mononuclear cell infiltration, lymphoid follicles, mucosal damage and the endoscopic findings such as nodular gastritis. These features are not different according to age except for the case of severe H. pylori infection. Degree of lymphoid follicles and heavy mononuclear cell infiltration may increase in case of nodular gastritis.