Is there an oxidative stress in children with Helicobacter pylori infection?

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the status of oxidative stress in children with Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection and their relationship with inflammatory parameters.

METHODS: At the Pediatric Gastroenterology Department of Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey, between January 2004 to August 2005, 39 children undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were investigated for malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in gastric tissue and erythrocytes, and presence of HP infection by means of histology.

RESULTS: There is an increase of the oxidative stress parameter, MDA, in gastric tissue, but not in erythrocytes in HP (+) patients. The antioxidant enzyme, SOD, levels both in gastric tissue and erythrocytes were not different between HP (+) and HP (-) patients. In 8 HP infected children after treatment with an anti-HP regimen, no change was observed except for tissue SOD activity, which is increased after therapy. No correlation was observed between histological findings and tissue, and erythrocyte MDA levels and SOD activities.

CONCLUSION: Oxidative stress has some role in tissue damage in HP infection in children.