The Course of <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> Infection in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Kidney Transplantation

Abstract

Background: Gastrointestinal complications are common in kidney transplant recipients. In these patients, the use of immunosuppressive drugs reduces the optimal immune response against infections such as Helicobacter pylori infection. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of H. pylori infection in pediatric kidney transplant patients after transplantation compared to before, and to evaluate the factors related to the rate of infection in these patients. Methods: Sixty-five kidney transplant patients aged 5 to 18 years were enrolled in the study. Before transplantation, all patients underwent endoscopy. Patients with H. pylori infection received eradication treatment, and after transplantation, they were evaluated for H. pylori using the urease breath test (UBT). Demographic characteristics, underlying disease, type of drugs used, and duration after transplantation were evaluated. Results: Thirty-eight patients (58.5%) were girls and 27 (41.5%) were boys. Eight patients (12.3%) had H. pylori infection before kidney transplantation, and after transplantation, only 2 (3.1%) had a positive UBT. The prevalence of H. pylori infection before and after transplantation did not significantly differ between sexes and age groups. Conclusions: Due to uremia, anemia, and fluctuations in gastric blood supply before transplantation, and the use of immunosuppressive drugs after transplantation, it is recommended to evaluate pediatric renal transplant recipients for H. pylori and treat infected patients both before and after kidney transplantation.