Epstein Barr virus and Helicobacter pylori co-infection are positively associated with severe gastritis in pediatric patients.

ABSTRACT:

Background

H. pylori infection is acquired during childhood and causes a chronic inflammatory response in the gastric mucosa, which is considered the main risk factor to acquire gastric cancer (GC) later in life. More recently, infection by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) have also been associated with GC. The role of EBV in early inflammatory responses and its relationship with H. pylori infection remains poorly studied. Here, we assessed whether EBV infection in children correlated with the stage of gastritis and whether co-infection with H. pylori affected the severity of inflammation.

Methodology/principal findings

333 pediatric patients with chronic abdominal pain were studied. From them, gastric biopsies were taken and inflammation graded according to the Sydney system; perip

SUBMITTER: Cardenas-Mondragon MG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3634751 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature