Association between Helicobacter pylori, cagA, and vacA Status and Clinical Presentation in Iranian Children

OBJECTIVE: Seroprevalence of H. pylori infection in Iran exceeds 65% of pediatric population. In this study, we intended to find association between the virulence genes (cagA and vacA) and clinical presentations. METHODS: H. pylori isolates were achieved from the gastric mucosa of children. In each case, the gastric biopsy specimens were cultured and the organisms identified. Detection of different genotypes was carried out by PCR method. FINDINGS: A total of 106 biopsy specimens were cultured and 33 H. pylori isolates obtained. Among these 33 H. pylori strains 24 (73%) were cagA-positive. Genotypes of vacA s1m2, s1m1, s2m2, and s2m1 were 45.5%, 30.3%, 21.2%, and 3%, respectively. Most female patients were infected with genotype s1m2. The vacA-m1 strains were significantly more common in patients with nodular gastritis. There were no statistical differences between the vacA and cagA genotypes and clinical outcomes. CONCLUSION: The frequency of cagA genotype was high. In this study, nodular gastritis was a common finding and was rather significantly associated with m1 allele of vacA.