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Serum pepsinogen I and gastrin concentrations in children positive for Helicobacter pylori
G Oderda1, D Vaira, D Dell'Olio
1Department of Gastroenterology, Middlesex Hospital, London.
Insights
Serum pepsinogen I levels correlate with gastritis severity in children with Helicobacter pylori. Eradicating H. pylori improves inflammation and lowers pepsinogen I and gastrin levels.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Infectious Diseases
- Biomarker Research
Background:
- Helicobacter pylori infection is a common cause of gastritis in children.
- Assessing gastritis severity and treatment efficacy can be challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between serum pepsinogen I, serum gastrin, and gastritis inflammatory scores in children with H. pylori.
- To evaluate the utility of these markers in assessing H. pylori-associated gastritis and treatment outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Serum pepsinogen I and gastrin levels, and inflammatory scores were measured in 71 children undergoing endoscopy.
- Measurements were taken before, and at one and six months after H. pylori treatment.
- Correlation analysis was performed based on H. pylori status and treatment response.
Main Results:
- Before treatment, significant correlations existed between serum pepsinogen I, inflammatory scores, and H. pylori status.
- Serum gastrin showed no correlation with H. pylori status.
- Following H. pylori eradication, inflammatory scores improved, and serum pepsinogen I and gastrin levels significantly decreased.
Conclusions:
- Serum pepsinogen I is a useful marker for gastritis severity in H. pylori-positive children.
- Serum gastrin measurements provide limited useful information for H. pylori-associated gastritis.
- These markers can help monitor treatment effectiveness in pediatric H. pylori infections.
Abstract:
Serum pepsinogen I, serum gastrin concentration, and inflammatory scores were measured in a population of 71 children undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for investigation of upper abdominal pain. Forty four were initially colonised with Helicobacter pylori. The indices were measured before treatment (in 71 children), one month (in 41 children), and six months (in 21 children) after stopping treatment. Before treatment there was a significant correlation between serum pepsinogen concentration, total inflammatory score, and H pylori state, but no correlation between serum gastrin concentrations and H pylori state. Similarly, the total inflammatory score and serum pepsinogen concentrations were significantly correlated. There was no such correlation in children negative for H pylori. After treatment the inflammatory score improved in those patients in whom H pylori had been eradicated. There was also a significant fall in serum pepsinogen I and serum gastrin concentration in those patients in whom H pylori had been eradicated. These results were similar to those found six months after treatment had been stopped. These findings suggest that the serum pepsinogen I concentration could be considered a useful marker for gastritis and can be used as an index of severity of gastritis in H pylori positive subjects. The measurement of serum gastrin concentrations does not give useful information.