[Helicobacter pylori detection in children with initially negative Gram, Giemsa and Wharting-Starry methods, using...

To identify Helicobacter pylori by Gram, Giemsa and Warthing-Starry histological staining methods in biopsies of the digestive tract in children, when Helicobacter pylori identification was negative with hematoxilin and eosin.

We carried out a retrospective, cross-sectional and comparative study of 36 gastric biopsies received in the department of Anatomic-Pathology, in a period often months. All the biopsies were initially stained with routine Hematoxilin and Eosin. Of the 36 biopsies, 24 were negative to Helicobacter pylori. From paraffin blocks of these last biopsies three new histological sections were obtained to dye them with Gram, Giemsa and Warthing-Starry, and two medical pathologists performed the microscopic interpretation of these samples.

The search for Helicobacter pylori was carried out in 24 initially negative biopsies, one was positive for Gram (4.16%) and negative for Giemsa and Warthing-Starry and four were both positive for Giemsa and Warthing-Starry (16.66%) and both were also negative for Gram. Only one biopsy was positive for the three methods. The remaining samples were negative for the three stains.

The Giemsa and/or Warthing-Starry histologic techniques can be a more specific alternative for the determination of Helicobacter pylori in patients with negative digestive tract biopsies with the traditional method of hematoxilin and eosin.