The Prevalence of Liver Cytolysis in Children with Helicobacter pylori Infection

Abstract

(1) Background: The relationship between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and liver disease has been discussed for many years, but the association between the infection and liver cytolysis in children has been insufficiently explored. In our study, we evaluate this relationship in a pediatric population from the northeast of Romania. (2) Methods: A retrospective study of children with H. pylori infection and liver cytolysis was conducted on a group of 1757 children, admitted to a pediatric gastroenterology regional center in northeast Romania over 3 years. (3) Results: Liver cytolysis syndrome was present in 112 children of both sexes. Of the 112 children, 20 children (17.9%) also had H. pylori infection. In the statistical analysis, we noted a significant association between liver cytolysis syndrome and H. pylori infection (χ2; p < 0.001). (4) Conclusions: This relationship requires further in-depth studies that also consider certain parameters that may influence the results of these correlations. In addition, we point out the need for further analyses evaluating, in terms of the histopathological changes in each liver disease, the efficacy of H. pylori eradication.

Helicobacter pylori Infection in Children: A Possible Reason for Headache?

“…We excluded children who previously received eradication treatment of H. pylori , those who previously had treatment with acetaminophen or antibiotics, children with evidence of bleeding of the gastro-intestinal tract at endoscopy, those who complained of headache or migraine during previous hospitalizations or had a medical past history of headache/migraine, patients with gastrointestinal disorders known to be associated with headache such as inflammatory bowel syndrome, celiac disease, or functional abdominal pain, and patients with a history of drug use, including H2 blockers, antibiotics, or proton pump inhibitors, within 4 weeks [ 27 , 28 , 29 ].…”

“…For children under 10 years old, the procedure was performed under general anesthesia. Biopsies were collected from the antrum and gastric corpus during endoscopy for rapid urease testing and histological and bacteriological examination [ 27 , 28 , 29 ].…”

Pediatric Gastroenterology Research

“…It is well known that H. pylori infection represents a risk factor for other gastrointestinal conditions, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, duodenal ulcers and gastric malignancy. Extra-digestive entities have also been correlated with H. pylori infection, including diseases from the autoimmune spectrum, cardiovascular diseases, pancreatic and colonic diseases, hepato-biliary system diseases, bronchiectasis, diabetes mellitus, neurological diseases and hematological diseases, such as iron-deficiency anemia [ 11 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ]. Several mechanisms, like chronic inflammation, gastrointestinal microbiota alteration and its interplay between the metabolic, immune and neuroendocrine system, have been mentioned in order to explain these associations [ 20 , 21 , 22 ].…”