RESUMEN
Our aim was to determine the frequency of peptic ulcer and Helicobacter pylori infection by gastrointestinal evaluations in pretransplantation phase in children with end-stage renal disease [ESRD]. Twenty-four children with ESRD [13 girls and 11 boys] with a mean age of 14.7 +/- 3.4 years on maintenance hemodialysis were included in this study. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopies were performed and 4 gastric, antral, and duodenal biopsy specimens were obtained for urease test and histological study. Serum gastrin levels were measured in all patients, too. A control group was chosen to compare the rate of H pylori infection between children with ESRD and healthy children. Gastrointestinal symptoms were present in 16 [66.7%] of 24 patients. Seventeen [70.8%] patients had abnormal upper gastrointestinal endoscopic findings. Infection with Helicobacter pylori was detected in 16 patients and 5 healthy children [66.7% versus 20.0%, P < .001]. The frequency of dyspeptic symptoms was not different significantly between uremic patients with and without H pylori infection [P = .67]. The same results were found regarding the upper gastrointestinal abnormalities found by endoscopy [P = .65]. Oral alkalizing supplement was received by 63% of symptomatic and 80% of asymptomatic patients. Serum gastrin levels were significantly higher in infected patients than in noninfected patients with H pylori [P < .001]. We found a significant number of patients with peptic ulcer diseases, H pylori infection, and secondary hypergastrinemia. This study showed that clinical symptoms are not a reliable predictor of gastrointestinal problems and this is more confusing in patients who received alkalizing solutions