Peripheral blood lymphocyte population in children infected with Helicobacter pylori.

PURPOSE

Helicobacter pylori infection in children is associated with a chronic inflammatory process of gastric and duodenal mucosa, which may have a various clinical course ranging from asymptomatic and chronic inflammatory condition to gastric ulceration. The immune system may contribute especially to chronic gastric mucosa inflammation. The aim of our study was to assess the levels of peripheral blood T (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+) and B lymphocyte subpopulation (CD19+) in children with Helicobacter pylori infection and to evaluate their relation to degree of antrum mucosa inflammation.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study was performed in 32 children aged 7-18 years, hospitalized due to dyspeptic symptoms. The endoscopic examination of upper gastrointestinal tract was performed and gastric and duodenal mucosa was estimated in all patients. The endoscopic and histological evaluation of gastric mucosa was performed according to the Sydney System [4]. The urease test (CLO-test-H. pylori) was made to estimate the severity of the infection.

RESULTS

Moderate antrum mucosa inflammation was found in 41.2% of the examined. The highest percentage of children (58.8%) presented marked inflammation. No mild inflammation was found in children examined.

CONCLUSIONS

No correlation was found between lymphocyte levels and the degree of the inflammatory changes in antrum mucosa. The evaluation of peripheral blood lymphocytes performed in children with Helicobacter pylori infection suggests that T lymphocytes may play a predominant role in this infection.