Relationship between Helicobacter pylori genotype and iron, zinc and copper status in infected children from Argentina

JANJETIC M; GOLDMAN C; BARRADO A; FUDA J; MESERI E; TORTI H; BELTRÁN GONZÁLEZ A; CUETO RUA E; BALCARCE N; ZUBILLAGA M; BOCCIO J

Niigata

Workshop; 15th Intrenational Workshop on Campylobacter, Helicobacter and Relates Organisms (CHRO 2009); 2009

Introduction: H. pylori has been related to micronutrient deficiencies. Clinical outcome of the infection is influenced by bacterial virulence genes cagA and vacA, however, the role of H. pylori genotype in the development of micronutrient deficiencies has not been established. We aimed to determine prevalence of H. pylori infection in symptomatic children from Argentina, and to evaluate the relationship between bacterial genotype and iron cooper and zinc nutritional status. Methods: 395 children referred for upper gastrointestinal symptoms were evaluated for the presence of H. pylori by the 13C-UBT. H. pylori cagA/vacA genotype was evaluated by PCR from gastric samples. Copper and zinc levels were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry, serum ferritin by immunoradiometric-assay and hemoglobin by a hematological counter. Iron deficiency (ID) was defined by ferritin values