The effect of virulence genotypes of Helicobacter pylori on eradication therapy in children

BACKGROUND/AIM: It is important to eradicate Helicobacter pylori at an early stage in patients during childhood to potentially prevent the development of H. pylori-related diseases. Studies have demonstrated that the virulence genotype of H. pylori influences the efficacy of eradication therapy. The efficacy of triple therapy has decreased significantly, which has seriously affected the clinical outcome of children with H. pylori infection. In this study we aimed to investigate the influence of virulence genotypes of H. pylori on triple eradication therapy in children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: H. pylori strains were isolated from the gastric antrum mucosa in children with upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was conducted to determine the H. pylori cagA, vacA, and iceA genotypes. All patients with H. pylori infection were administered 14-day triple therapy. After drug withdrawal for at least 4 weeks, the (13)C-urea breath test ((13)C-UBT) was used to observe the therapeutic effect of H. pylori eradication. The eradication rates were evaluated by intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analyses. RESULTS: A total of 107 patients were enrolled in this study. Nine patients were lost to follow-up, and 98 patients were administered eradication therapy. Based on ITT and PP analyses, the H. pylori eradication rate was 64.5% (69/107) and 70.4% (69/98), respectively. Among the successful eradication groups, the cagA-positive, vacAs1a, vacAs1c, vacAm1, vacAm2, iceA1, and iceA2 genes were identified in 72.8%, 68.1%, 76.9%, 60.0%, 74.6%, 71.8%, and 75.0% of strains, respectively. Of the unsuccessful eradication groups, the cagA-positive, vacAs1a, vacAs1c, vacAm1, vacAm2, iceA1, and iceA2 genes were identified in 27.2%, 31.9%, 23.1%, 40.0%, 25.4%, 28.2%, and 25.0% of strains, respectively. No statistically significant differences were noted in the detection rate of the H. pylori genotypes between the H. pylori successful and unsuccessful eradication groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The cagA, vacA, and iceA genotypes of H. pylori are not associated with the efficacy of omeprazole-based triple therapy on the eradication of H. pylori infection in children.