[Interleukin-8 levels in gastric biopsies of children colonized by Helicobacter pylori].

BACKGROUND

Helicobacter pylori produces a gastric mucosal inflammation characterized by neutrophil infiltration, due to the liberation of interleukin-8.

AIM

To measure interleukin-8 levels in gastric mucosa samples from children colonized by H. pylori.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Thirty one children that required an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for diagnostic purpose were studied. Antral biopsies were obtained for pathological study, H. pylori detection using CLO-test and interleukin-8 determination by ELISA.

RESULTS

Nine children were not infected with H. pylori. Of these, six had a pathologically normal gastric mucosa and three had a mild chronic gastritis. Twenty two children were infected by H. pylori and all had a chronic gastritis with activity signs in 13. Mucosal interleukin-8 was higher in infected than in non infected children (59.7 (range 6.1-379.7) and 15.8 (range 3.9-104.1) pg/mg respectively p = 0.029). Colonized children with an active chronic gastritis had higher interleukin-8 levels than those with inactive gastritis (84.4 (range 33.3-379.0) and 26.8 (range 6.1-372.6) pg/ml respectively p = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

Stomach colonization by H. pylori is associated with higher mucosal levels of interleukin-8. This phenomenon probably plays a role in the genesis and intensity of gastric mucosal inflammation in children.