All issues > Volume 52(5); 2009

Original Article

Korean J Pediatr. 2009;52(5):544-548. Published online May 15, 2009.

Relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and iron-deficiency anemia in infants and children

Meong Hi MH Son¹, Jung Suk JS Yeom¹, Ji Suk JS Park¹, Eun Sil ES Park¹, Ji Hyun JH Seo¹, Jae Young JY Lim¹, Chan Hoo CH Park¹, Hyang Ok HO Woo¹, Hee Shang HS Youn¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, The Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, Jinju, Korea

Correspondence Jae Young JY Lim ,Email: pedneu@gsnu.ac.kr

Abstract

Purpose
: To elucidate a potential association between Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection and iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) in infants and children in terms of the other factors related to iron utilization and storage although the association of ferritin was previously studied.
Methods
: We evaluated 135 infants (aged 6-24 months) admitted at Gyeongsang National University Hospital from 2000 to 2006. Western blot assays using the HP CagA antigen (120 kD) were conducted to identify infections. The concentrations of six parameters were measured: hemoglobin (Hb), serum ferritin, soluble serum transferrin receptors, interleukin-6, prohepcidin, and C-reactive protein. In addition, the infants were classified into IDA, anemia from inflammation (AI), unclassified anemia (UCA), and normal groups on the basis of Hb and ferritin concentrations.
Results
: In the IDA group (n=20), seven infants were infected with HP, with the other infants showing no evidence of infection. The mean Hb levels in the IDA group were significantly lower in HP-infected infants than those uninfected (7.1 vs. 8.2 g/dL, respectively); the mean ferritin levels were also significantly lower in the infected infants (3.2 vs. 6.8 µg/L). The other four parameters did not differ significantly among the IDA infants. No correlations were found between the six parameters and HP infection status in the other groups.
Conclusion
: There were no significant differences in the HP infection rates among the study groups. However, in the IDA group, the HP-infected infants had significantly lower serum ferritin and Hb levels than the HP-negative infants (P＜0.05).

Keywords :Helicobacter pylori, Inflammation, Anemia, Iron deficiency