Nam Y., Ryoo E., Cho H. et al. Effect of Helicobacter pylori infection to the gastric motilities in children with chronic gastritis // Gut 2008; 57 ( Suppl II) A 325

INTRODUCTION: Helicobacter pylori is the cause of peptic ulcer disease and a major risk factor for gastric cancer. There are many studies about H. pylori infection but the effect of H. pylori infection to the gastric motilities has not been established yet.

AIMS & METHODS: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of H. pylori infection to the gastric motilities in children with chronic gastritis and to assess the clinical value of electrogastrography (EGG) on prediction of H. pylori infection. We performed gastrofiberscopy including biopsy and urease breath test to the children who visited gastroenterology clinic with abdominal pain and also recorded gastric myoelectrical activity by using EGG. We divided 28 subjects who were confirmed chronic gastritis by biopsy finding into H. pylori positive group (12 subjects) and negative group (16 subjects), and compared EGG parameters respectively.

RESULTS: It was found that H. pylori positive group had a lower percentage of pre-prandial normal slow waves (24.7% vs. 40.8%, P < 0.02) and a higher percentage of pre-prandial bradygastria (33.2% vs. 18.2%, P < 0.01) than the H. pylori negative group. It was also found that the post-prandial delta power of this group was significantly lower than that of H. pylori negative group (-0.02 dB vs. 0.62 dB, P < 0.03). When these three parameters were all satisfied, the specificity for prediction H. pylori was above 90.0% and also when the percentage of pre-prandial bradygastria was above 20 percent, the possibility for prediction H. pylori infection was about 8 times higher (odds ratio 8:1, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: In conclusion, it is suggested that the gastric motility in children with chronic gastritis can be influenced by H. pylori infection. And this study indicates that through analyzing the parameters of the EGG, H. pylori infection might be predicted in children with gastrointestinal symptoms.