Macrophages of the antral mucosa in children with Helicobacter pylori infection and after eradication.

Our study included 59 children, aged 12.2 +/- 4.6 years, with Helicobacter pylori infection and 29 children, aged 11.0 +/- 4.2 years, with past H. pylori infection after spontaneous eradication with positive IgG antibodies against H. pylori and with functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, without H. pylori infection, with normal IgG concentration against H. pylori. All biopsy specimens from each of the study groups were stained by an immunohistochemical method for the evaluation of CD68+ macrophages in the antral mucosa. Histopathological changes in the antral mucosa of children with Helicobacter pylori are characterized by an increased infiltrate of macrophages, dependent on the severity grade of inflammation.