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Blood leukocyte differential in Helicobacter pylori infection
T J Karttunen1, S Niemelä, T Kerola
1Department of Pathology, University of Oulu, Finland.
Insights
Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric inflammation significantly increase peripheral blood leukocytes, including lymphocytes and basophils. This suggests systemic effects of H. pylori gastritis, potentially involving allergic mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Immunology
- Hematology
Background:
- Helicobacter pylori infection is common and causes chronic gastric inflammation.
- Systemic effects of H. pylori infection and associated gastritis are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of H. pylori infection and gastric mucosal inflammation on peripheral blood leukocyte counts.
- To determine if H. pylori gastritis influences systemic immune cell levels.
Main Methods:
- Studied 96 patients undergoing endoscopy with biopsies to detect H. pylori and assess mucosal inflammation.
- Analyzed peripheral blood leukocyte and differential counts using flow cytometry.
Main Results:
- H. pylori-positive patients showed significantly higher total leukocytes, lymphocytes, and basophils compared to H. pylori-negative patients.
- Total leukocyte counts correlated with mucosal neutrophils, eosinophils, and mononuclear cells.
- Basophil counts correlated with mucosal neutrophils and mononuclear inflammatory cells.
Conclusions:
- Gastric mucosal inflammation from H. pylori infection is reflected in peripheral blood leukocyte profiles.
- Elevated basophils (basophilia) in H. pylori gastritis may indicate involvement of allergic mechanisms.
Abstract:
Helicobacter pylori causes a chronic infection in gastric mucosa, but its systemic effects are largely unknown. Our aim was to characterize the effect of H. pylori infection and gastric mucosal inflammation on the peripheral blood leukocyte count. An endoscopic series of 96 patients (40 men and 56 women), with a mean age of 62 years (range 49-80) was studied. Endoscopy with eight stepwise biopsies was performed and the occurrence of H. pylori was studied from sections stained with Warthin-Starry. The severity of inflammation in antral and body mucosa was estimated. The peripheral blood leukocyte count and differential count were determined by the automatic flow cytometric method. The total number of blood leukocytes and the numbers of lymphocytes and basophils were significantly increased in H. pylori-positive patients (N = 58), as compared with H. pylori-negative ones (N = 38). The total number of blood leukocytes correlated with the numbers of neutrophils, eosinophils, and mononuclear cells in the gastric mucosa. The number of basophils correlated with the number of mucosal neutrophils and mononuclear inflammatory cells. The results show that mucosal inflammation due to H. pylori infection is reflected in the amount of peripheral blood leukocytes. Basophilia suggests involvement of allergic mechanisms in H. pylori gastritis.