Concordance between breath test and histologic damage in Helicobacter pylori associated infections in infancy.

OBJECTIVE

the purpose of this study was to investigate the concordance between urea breath test values and the histological severity of gastric mucosa lesions in children.

METHOD: forty children ranging in age from 3 to 17 years were examined endoscopically because of abdominal pain and positive breath test results. Histological status was determined by the intensity of the inflammatory infiltrate and by the depth of the damage. Histologically, four groups were considered: normal-appearing gastric mucosa (group 0), mild antrum gastritis (group 1), moderate antrum gastritis (group 2), and severe antrum gastritis (group 3).

RESULTS

normal-appearing gastric mucosa was observed in 8 children with a mean breath test value of 44.07; mild chronic gastritis was observed in 17 children with a mean breath test value of 36.15; moderate gastritis was demonstrated in 10 children with a mean breath test value of 48.50, and severe gastritis was observed in 5 children with a mean breath test value of 52.31.

CONCLUSION

we conclude that there is no concordance between urea breath test values and histological severity of gastric mucosa lesions in children.