RESUMEN
Background: Helicobacter pylori produces a gastric mucosal inflammation characterized by neutrophil infiltration, due to the liberation of interleukin-8. Aim: To measure interleukin-8 levels in gastric mucosa samples from cbildren colonized by H. pylori. Patients and methods: Thirty one children that required an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for diagnostic purpose were studied. Antral biopsies were obtained for pathological study; H. pylori detection using CLO-test and interleukin-8 determination by ELISA. Results: Nine children were not infected by H. pylori. Of these, six had a pathologically normal gastric mucosa and three had a mild chronic gastritis. Twenty two children were infected by H. pylori and all had a chonic gastritis with activity signs in 13. Mucosal interleukin-8 was higher in infected than in non infected children (59.7 (range 6.1-379.7) and 15.8 (range 3.9-104.1) pg/mg respectively p=0.029). Colonized children with an active chronic gastritis had higher interleukin-8 levels than those with an active gastritis (84.4 (range 33-3-379.0) and 26.8 (range 6.1-372.6) pg/ml respectively p=0.04). Conclusions: Stomach colonization by H. pylori is associated with higher mucosal levels of interleukin-8. This phenomenon probably plays a role in the genesis and intensity of gastric mucosal inflammation in cbildren