Helicobacter Pylori in End Stage Renal Disease Paediatric Patients; Where Do We Stand?

Abstract

Background: H. Pylori infection in end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients can have a potential impact on morbidity and mortality of these patients.Objectives: This work is done to know the frequency of H. pylori infection in ESRD paediatric patients in comparison with healthy-matched children and to assess the impact of H. pylori on the disease status of these patients.Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study in which H. pylori stool antigen test was assessed in 38 ESRD pediatric patients on hemodialysis and in 50 healthy age and sex matched children to compare the prevalence of H. pylori. Gastrointestinal symptoms, hematological and biochemical parameters (including iron indices) were recorded in the patients together with hepatitis C virus co-infection. Comparison of these variables were done among H. pylori positive and negative ESRD patients.Results: Among the 38 ESRD patients 18 (47.4%) had H. pylori versus nine (18%) of the 50 healthy children (p ° 0.0064). There was no significant difference between H. pylori positive and H. pylori negative patients as regards age, duration of dialysis, gastrointestinal symptoms, weight standard deviations and hepatitis C co-infec-tion. Transferrin saturation index was significantly lower in H. pylori positive patients compared to H. pylori negative patients. .Conclusions: The prevalence of H. pylori infection is higher in ESRD children than in healthy children. Although this seems to have minimal effect on their current disease status, a definite protocol for the diagnosis and treatment of H. pylori is required being classified as group 1 carcinogen by the WHO - in already compromised patients.