Hypergastrinemia Associated with Helicobacter pylori Infection and Iron-Deficiency Anemia in a l5-Year-Old Girl

Overview

H. pylori is a major cause of primary chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer disease in children. The authors give an account of H. pylori infection (cagA+, vacA+) in a 15-Year-old girl where the initial clinical features included fatigue, collapses, and anorexia, elevated serum gastrin level (>1000 mIU4) raised the suspicion of gastrinoma. H pylori gastricinfection was also associated withiron-deficiency anemia. Aftertreatmentfor H pylori infection (omeprazole, clarithromycin, amoxycillin), clinical symptoms improved consistently, the serum gastrin level was repeteadly quite normml and hematologic and Iron profiles esere within the normml range. There is compelling evidence that H. pylori must be taken finto account as a cause of hypergastrinemia other than gastrinoma in childhood.

Key words:
H. pylor, gastrin, Iron-deficiency anemia.