Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in portal hypertensive gastropathy among infants and children

ABSTRACT

Thirty patients with portal hypertensive gastropathy and 20 controls were subjected to history and clinical examination, upper G.I. endoscopy and taking antral and body biopsies from the stomach, pathological examination of specimens for histology and H. pylori. The results indicated that H. pylori prevalence was significantly higher in patients with portal hypertensive gastropathy than in the control group. H. pylori was significantly more prevalent in age below five years than above five years. There was no significant relation between prevalence of H. pylori and different grades of varices, hematemesis, melena or previous endoscopy. However, more prevalence was observed in cases having moderate and severe gastropathy. H. pylori was observed in cases having moderate and severe gastropathy. H. pylori was more prevalent in patients with recurrent abdominal pain and/or diarrhea than those without pain or diarrhea