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High Resolution Electron Microscopy of the Helicobacter pylori Cag Type IV Secretion System Pili Produced in Varying Conditions of Iron Availability
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High Resolution Electron Microscopy of the Helicobacter pylori Cag Type IV Secretion System Pili Produced in Varying Conditions of Iron Availability

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Iron status and Helicobacter pylori infection in symptomatic children: an international multi-centered study

Dulciene Maria Magalhaes Queiroz1, Paul R Harris, Ian R Sanderson

  • 1Laboratory of Research in Bacteriology, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. dqueiroz@medicina.ufmg.br

Plos One
|July 18, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Helicobacter pylori infection significantly impacts iron levels in children, contributing to iron deficiency and anaemia. This global health issue is more prevalent in developing regions, highlighting the need for further research and intervention strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Iron deficiency (ID) and iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) are significant global health concerns, especially in developing nations.
  • The association between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and ID/IDA is debated, lacking a definitive consensus.
  • Understanding this link is crucial for addressing pediatric malnutrition and anaemia.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of H. pylori infection on iron status in children.
  • To compare H. pylori prevalence and its impact on ID/IDA in developing versus developed countries.
  • To explore the relationship between H. pylori infection and specific markers of iron deficiency and anaemia in pediatric patients undergoing endoscopy.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 311 children (mean age 10.7±3.2 years) from Brazil, Chile, and the UK were studied.
  • Gastric and duodenal biopsies were analyzed for H. pylori status and histology.
  • Blood samples were assessed for parameters indicative of ID/IDA, including ferritin and hemoglobin levels.

Main Results:

  • H. pylori infection prevalence was 27.7%, significantly higher in Latin America (35%) than in the UK (7%).
  • H. pylori infection was a significant predictor of low ferritin and hemoglobin concentrations in children from Latin America.
  • Negative correlations were found between red blood cell indices (MCV, MCH) and the degree of gastric inflammation.

Conclusions:

  • H. pylori infection in children demonstrably influences serum ferritin and hemoglobin concentrations.
  • The findings suggest H. pylori infection contributes to the depletion of iron stores and the development of anaemia in pediatric populations.
  • The study underscores the importance of considering H. pylori status in the diagnosis and management of iron deficiency in children, particularly in high-prevalence regions.
Abstract

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