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Transient protein losing enteropathy associated with acute gastritis and campylobacter pylori
I D Hill1, C Sinclair-Smith, A J Lastovica
1Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town.
Insights
This study links Campylobacter pylori infection to acute gastritis and protein-losing enteropathy in children. Eradicating the bacteria resolved both conditions, suggesting a causal relationship.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Microbiology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) is a rare condition characterized by excessive protein loss through the gastrointestinal tract.
- Acute gastritis is inflammation of the stomach lining, often associated with infections.
- Campylobacter pylori (now known as Helicobacter pylori) was emerging as a pathogen in the late 1980s.
Observation:
- Three pediatric cases of acute protein-losing enteropathy were identified.
- All three children were diagnosed with acute gastritis.
- Campylobacter pylori infection was detected in the gastric mucosa of these children.
Findings:
- The children's protein-losing enteropathy resolved following treatment.
- Gastritis symptoms also improved, and Campylobacter pylori was no longer detected.
- This suggests a direct link between Campylobacter pylori infection, gastritis, and PLE in these pediatric patients.
Implications:
- This research highlights a previously undescribed association between Campylobacter pylori gastritis and protein-losing enteropathy in children.
- It suggests that identifying and treating H. pylori infection may be crucial for managing certain cases of pediatric PLE.
- Further research is warranted to confirm this association and explore treatment protocols.
Abstract:
Three children presented with acute protein losing enteropathy and were found to have acute gastritis associated with Campylobacter pylori infection. Recovery from protein losing enteropathy was accompanied by resolution of the gastritis and the disappearance of C pylori from the gastric mucosa. Their clinical course suggested that the C pylori had caused the gastritis and the protein losing enteropathy. The association between gastritis caused by C pylori and protein losing enteropathy in children has not to our knowledge been previously described.