Stool antigen tests for the detection of Helicobacter pylori in children

Reliable non-invasive methods for detection of Helicobacter pylori [H. pylori] infection are required to investigate the incidence, transmission, and clearance of infection in childhood. Detecting bacterial antigens in stool offer an alternative noninvasive diagnostic test. However its accuracy in developing countries is not well established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of stool antigen test for H pylori in Iranian children with recurrent abdominal pain necessitating endoscopy. One hundred three children enrolled in this study. Endoscopy and biopsy was done on all patients providing a criterion standard for validation of the H. pylori stool antigen [HpSA] tests. The presence of H. pylori organisms in stool was determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using a commercially available polyclonal antibody. HpSA sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood ratios were determined with reference to the results of cultures of gastric biopsy. Of the 103 children tested 41 [39.8%] and 39 [37.8%] were positive for H. pylori according to the results of cultures of gastric biopsy and HpSA, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood ratios of HpSA were found to be 85%, 93%, 89.7%, and 90%, respectively. In this pilot study, a low-cost and rapid diagnostic technique, stool antigen test proved to be highly sensitive and specific for detecting H pylori infection in children with recurrent abdominal pain. Our results are comparable to those reported elsewhere in children and demonstrate that the HpSA test can replace endoscopy and biopsy for detecting H. pylori infection

Cytomegalovirus colitis in a 10 year-old girl after kidney transplantation

Cytomegalovirus is an important infection in kidney Transplantation. Isolation of the CMV virus or detection of its proteins or nucleic acid in any body fluid or tissue specimen is defined as [CMV infection]. A 10-year-old girl was admitted frequently for vomiting and colicky watery diarrhea starting one month after renal transplantation from a non-relative living donor. Cr, BUN, serum electrolytes and also liver function tests were normal. Anti CMV IgM titer was negative before and after transplantation. On colonoscopy large aphthous like lesions were detected in the colon. CMV PCR of the lesion was strongly positive [>2000 copies/ml]. The patient received Ganciclovir. Usually CMV infected patients present with renal dysfunction after renal transplantation but other organ involvements must not be ignored. We report a patient presenting only with intestinal signs and symptoms of CMV infection

Value of gluten patch test in diagnosis of celiac disease

Celiac disease is an intestinal disorder identified by mucus inflammation, villous atrophy and crypt hyperplasia. This disorder can be controlled by elimination of gluten from daily diet. Patients with celiac disease are at greater risk of gastrointestinal malignancy and non-Hodgkin lymphoma than are the general population. This study tries to present the value of gluten patch test for diagnosis of celiac disease. In this investigation, the study population was divided into case and control groups. The case group consisted of patients with celiac disease. The control group were patients involved in celiac disease but suffering from other gastrointestinal disorders. Both gluten patch and placebo patch were attached to the skin between the scapulas. The results were read twice: 48 hours and 96 hours after the patch was applied. Patients who showed irritation reactions were withdrawn from this study. The results were analysed by SPSS software, Spearman's test, chi square, and Mann-Whitney tests. The value obtained from the gluten patch test after 96 hours are as follows: specification at 95%, sensitivity at 8%, positive prediction value at 67%, and negative prediction value at 43%. It can be concluded that the gluten patch test is not an efficient test for screening of celiac disease, however, it can be useful for diagnosis of celiac disease if employed and studied with clinical symptoms and serologic and biopsy tests. Furthermore, we should doubt our judgment if the result of gluten patch test for the patient with celiac disease is positive