Helicobacter pylori infection and mast cells of the antrum mucosa.

The studies aimed at evaluating mast cells in inflammatory infiltration of gastric mucosa in children with H. pylori infection, as well as in those after the infection eradication. Biopsy specimens of gastric mucosa were evaluated, the specimens collected from 59 H. pylori-positive patients (Group I), 29 patients after H. pylori infection (Group II) and 18 H. pylori-negative children (Group III). The specimens were assessed for infection and inflammation and stained with anti-human mast cell tryptase to count mucosal mast cells. The evaluations of histopathological changes in the antrum mucosa of the children were performed, according to Sydney's Classification. In morphometric evaluation, slight differences were found in the numbers of mast cells among Groups: I, II and III of the examined children (the number of mastocytes being: 86.4, 81.4 and 70.2 cells/mm2 of specimen, respectively).