Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with idiopathic short stature

BACKGROUND: Some investigators have recently described an association between Helicobacter pylori infection and children with short stature. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate children with short stature with different etiologies. METHODS: This study evaluated short patients aged from 1 to 16 years. These patients were divided into a growth hormone deficient short stature group (n = 27) and an idiopathic short stature group (n = 14). A control group included children with normal growth and no abdominal pain (n = 47). Anti-H. pylori antibodies were measured in each group (total of 88). RESULTS: The antibody positivity rates for each group were as follows: growth hormone deficient short stature group, 7.4%; idiopathic short stature group, 28.6%; and control group, 6.4%. The H. pylori antibody positivity rate in the idiopathic short stature group was significantly higher than in the control group. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest an association between H. pylori infection and idiopathic short stature.