Is Helicobacter pylori a cause of infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis?

My hypothesis is that infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) is caused in some cases by Helicobacter pylori (HP) a bacterium commonly found in the human stomach. IHPS is an idiopathic condition of infancy. It occurs at about 5 weeks of age in 3 per 1000 newborns. Children with IHPS have structurally normal pylori at birth and do not resemble children with congenital anomalies. Some nonspecific evidence (temporal distribution, seasonality, familial clustering, leukocytic infiltrates, and increased risk with bottle feeding) are compatible with an infectious etiology. Some other epidemiologic features of IHPS, such as its strong male predominance, its racial and social class variation, and a possible drop in its incidence, are also features of HP infection. Clinical features of IHPS, such as vomiting, hematemesis, and esophagitis, are also consistent with HP. Finally, children with IHPS appear to be more likely to develop chronic conditions, such as peptic ulcers, now known to be caused by HP. Copyright 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.