Serologic Recognition of VacA and CagA in Children with Helicobacter pylori Infection

Chung, Ki Sup; Kim, Je Woo

Abstract

Background/Airns: VacA and CagA were assayed to investigate overall positivity and to evaluate the relationships with upper GI diseases.
METHODS
Thirty children with H. pylori infection were included. The mean age was 11.9+1.6 (6.1-14.0) years. VacA and CagA were detected with Helicoblot 2.0 kit (Genelabs diagnostics, Singapore). Strains were classified into type I (VacA+ and CagA+) and type II (VacA- or CagA-#).
RESULTS
Endoscopic diagnosis were peptic ulcer (5), gastric ulcer (4), duodenal ulcer (1), nodular gastritis (23), and superficial gastritis (2). Urease was positive in 30 (100%) with VacA 23 (77%), and CagA 25 (83%). Type I strains were 22 (73%) with type II in 8 (27%). In nodular gastritis, VacA was positive in 78% and CagA in 87%, and in peptic ulcer VacA and CagA in 80% each. In nodular gastritis type I and type II was detected in 74% and 26%, and in peptic ulcer 80% and 20% respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
VacA and CagA positivity were higher than western developed countries, and type I toxic strains were more prevalent. Futher study will clarify the causal relationship of H. pylori with upper gastrointestinal diseases.