<i>Helicobacter pylori</i> Infection in Children with Phenylketonuria Does Not Depend on Metabolic Control and Is Not More Frequent Than in Healthy Subjects—A Cross-Sectional Study
Marek Walkowiak,
Łukasz Kałużny,
Renata Mozrzymas,
Małgorzata Jamka,
Bożena Mikołuć,
Joanna Jagłowska,
Ewa Starostecka,
Roza Nurgaliyeva,
Jarosław Walkowiak,
Aleksandra Lisowska
Affiliations
Marek Walkowiak
Department of Reproduction, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Polna Str. 33, 60-535 Poznan, Poland
Łukasz Kałużny
Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Metabolic Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Szpitalna Str. 27/33, 60-572 Poznan, Poland
Renata Mozrzymas
Research and Development Center, Regional Specialist Hospital, Kamieńskiego Str. 73a, 51-124 Wrocław, Poland
Małgorzata Jamka
Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Metabolic Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Szpitalna Str. 27/33, 60-572 Poznan, Poland
Bożena Mikołuć
Department of Pediatrics, Rheumatology, Immunology and Metabolic Bone Diseases, Medical University of Bialystok, Waszyngtona Str. 17, 15-274 Bialystok, Poland
Joanna Jagłowska
Department of Pediatrics, Hematology and Oncology, Medical University of Gdansk, Dębinki Str. 7, 80-211 Gdansk, Poland
Ewa Starostecka
The Regional Center of Rare Diseases, Polish Mother’s Memorial Hospital Research Institute, Rzgowska Str. 281/289, 93-338 Łodź, Poland
Roza Nurgaliyeva
Department of Normal Physiology, West Kazakhstan Marat Ospanov Medical University, Maresyev Str. 68, Aktobe 030019, Kazakhstan
Jarosław Walkowiak
Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Metabolic Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Szpitalna Str. 27/33, 60-572 Poznan, Poland
Aleksandra Lisowska
Department of Clinical Auxology and Pediatric Nursing, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Szpitalna Str. 27/33, 60-572 Poznan, Poland
In a small preliminary study, phenylketonuria and poor metabolic control were suggested as risk factors for Helicobacter pylori infection in children as detected with an antigen stool test. We aimed to determine Helicobacter pylori prevalence in an adequately sized group of individuals with phenylketonuria and healthy subjects using the standard gold test (urea breath test). Further, we correlated Helicobacter pylori infection with metabolic control. The study comprised 103 individuals with phenylketonuria and 103 healthy subjects on whom a 13C urea breath test was performed. Blood phenylalanine levels in the preceding year were analysed. The infection rate did not differ between individuals with phenylketonuria and healthy subjects (10.7% vs 15.5%; p = 0.41). The frequency of testing and phenylalanine concentrations of Helicobacter pylori-positive and Helicobacter pylori-negative patients with phenylketonuria did not differ (p = 0.92 and p = 0.54, respectively). No associations were detected for body mass index or metabolic control. Forward stepwise regression models revealed that age (p = 0.0009–0.0016) was the only independent correlate of Helicobacter pylori infection with a relatively low fraction of the variability of the condition being explained (adjR2 = 0.0721–0.0754; model p = 0.020–0.023). In conclusion, Helicobacter pylori infection in phenylketonuria is not more frequent than in the general population. Moreover, it does not depend on metabolic control.
