Serum Pepsinogen I (PGI) and gastrin levels in children with gastritis

Abstract

Background: Studies on the relationship of childhood gastritis
with serum PGI and gastrin are few. This prospective
study aimed to evaluate their use in the differential diagnosis
and assessment of the severity of childhood gastritis. Materials
and Methods: Serum PGI and gastrin G-17 (fast-postprandial)
were estimated by RIA in 101 symptomatic children,
aged 4-16 years (mean 102.7 y) who underwent endoscopy.
PGI and gastrin were reevaluated in 14 patients after H pylori
eradication. Results: A) 45 children had H pylori gastritis,
B) 35 non H. pylori gastritis and C) 21 had non H. pylori normal
gastric mucosa. A significant increase of PGI levels (70.9
 27.1 ng/ml) was found only in group A, compared to groups
B (46.412.9 ng/ml) and C (46.38 11.18 ng/ml p<0.001.
There was no correlation between serum PGI levels and the
severity of gastritis or the bacterial load. PGI returned to
normal (p=0.02) after eradication. No difference in gastrin
concentrations among the 3 groups was found. However, a
positive correlation of postprandial gastrin with the severity
of gastritis was noticed only in the H.pylori gastritis group
(p<0.02). Serum fasting and postprandial gastrin levels were
significantly reduced after H. pylori eradication (p<0.008
and p<0.03 respectively). Conclusions: Elevated serum PGI
is associated with H pylori gastritis in children, while raised
postprandial gastrin reflects only its severity.
Key words: Children, Gastrin, Gastritis, H. pylori, Pepsinogen I