Helicobacter pylori infection as a cause of sideropenic anaemia resistant to treatment - own observation

A relationship is described between H. pylori infection and diseases localized beyond the gastrointestinal tract, for example: atherosclerosis, stenocardia, cerebral stroke, chronic urticaria, rosacea, hemicrania and in, children with height deficit or anaemia, caused by iron deficiency. Two cases of sideropenic anaemia in children resistant to oral iron are presented. Gastrointestinal tract symptoms were not observed and most probably the reason for anaemia was H. pylori infection. The first 14 years old patient with normal menstrual periods had been treated for four months by oral iron, without any effect (Hgb 10.2 g%, Fe 36.8%, ferritin < 10.8 mg%). On endoscopy of upper gastrointestinal tract there were macroscopic typical changes of H. pylori infection in antrum part of the stomach. On histological examination of biopsy segments inflammation of stomach mucosa in average intensification and H. pylori infection was confirmed. Recovery caused normalization of iron in the organism and of erythrocyte morphology. There was no recurrence of anaemia in long-term observation of the girl. A 14 years old boy treated without success for severe sideropenic anaemia (Hgb 7.1 g%), with positive family history (father has gastric ulcer). In spite of lack of gastrointestinal tract symptoms, on endoscopy there were features of chronic active hemorrhagic inflammation of stomach mucosa with H. pylori infection. Oral iron and effective eradication (proton pump inhibitor, amoxycillin, clarithromycin), achieved normalization of morphological changes. Recurrence of anaemia has not been observed.