Increased macrophage infiltration of gastric mucosa in Helicobacter pylori-infected children.

The purpose of the study was to quantify gastric mucosal macrophages and define their association with the histopathologic features of stomach biopsies obtained from Helicobacter pylori-infected and uninfected children. Endoscopically obtained gastric biopsies from symptomatic children were independently evaluated by two groups of pathologists. Thirty children were evaluated; 14 were H. pylori-infected. H. pylori positivity was determined by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), Giemsa, Warthin-Starry and an H. pylori-specific immunoperoxidase stain. A macrophage-specific, KP-1, immunoperoxidase stain was used to quantify positive cells. Inflammatory cell infiltrates were graded by severity with scores of mild to severe. Increased numbers of gastric mucosal macrophages were observed in biopsies of H. pylori-infected versus uninfected children (P < 0.05) and correlated with gastritis severity. The role of this inflammatory cell the in persistence of gastric mucosal inflammation in H. pylori infection warrants further study to develop targeted immunotherapeutic strategies.