Helicobacter pylori infection in pediatric candidates for kidney transplantation.

INTRODUCTION Chronic kidney failure was suggested to have a protective effect against Helicobacter pylori infection in adults. However, data about this effect in children is lacking. This study was designed to ascertain the prevalence, endoscopic findings, and histopathological features accompanying the Helicobacter pylori infection in children with end-stage renal disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS Data were collected from 117 children with end-stage renal disease aged 5 to 18 years that underwent routine upper gastrointestinal endoscopy before kidney transplantation between 1998 and 2009. The specimens that were taken from the antrum were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and Giemsa to detect Helicobacter pylori. RESULTS Gastrointestinal symptoms were reported in 12% of the patients. Helicobacter pylori was detected in 24% of the children. The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection was high in children with abnormal endoscopic findings (P = .02). There was no correlation between Helicobacter pylori infection and gender, dialysis status, duration of dialysis, underlying diseases, and gastrointestinal symptoms. Helicobacter pylori infection had a significant correlation with histopathological features (P = .005), age older than 10 years (P = .003), and upper gastrointestinal endoscopic findings (P = .001). CONCLUSIONS In this study, Helicobacter pylori infection had a high prevalence in children with end-stage renal disease, especially in older ones. The majority of children with Helicobacter pylori infection were asymptomatic, while they had abnormal findings on upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and chronic active gastritis features in histopathological assessment.