Impact of chronic Helicobacter pylori infection on inflammatory markers and hematological parameters.

OBJECTIVE: Determining a non-invasive method for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) induced gastritis will be of great help especially in the field of pediatrics. In this study, we aimed to evaluate impact of chronic H. pylori infection on inflammatory markers and hematological parameters.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: 522 patients aged between 2 months and 18 years, with chronic dyspeptic complaints who underwent gastroduodenoscopy were included. Complete blood count, ferritin, C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) tests were performed. Platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) values were calculated.

RESULTS: From 522 patients 54% had chronic gastritis and 28.6% had esophagitis, while 24.5% of their biopsy samples revealed H. pylori. The mean age of H. pylori  positive patients was significantly higher (p<0.05). Females were in the majority in H. pylori positive and negative groups and in the group with esophagitis. The most common complaint in all groups was abdominal pain. In the H. pylori positive group, a significant increase in neutrophil and PLR values, a significant decrease in the NLR value were found. Ferritin and vitamin B12 values were significantly lower in the H. pylori positive group. No significant difference was found in the parameters we compared between the group with and without esophagitis, except for mean platelet volume (MPV). MPV values were significantly lower in the group with esophagitis.

CONCLUSIONS: Neutrophil and PLR values are practical and easily obtainable parameters related to inflammatory phases of H. pylori infection. They may become useful parameters in the follow-up. H. pylori infection is one of the important causes that trigger iron deficiency and vitamin B12 deficiency anemia. Further large-scale randomized controlled studies are needed to confirm our results.