Helicobacter pylori gastritis manifested by acute anemia

Helicobacter pylori gastritis usually manifests as recurrent abdominal pain but is sometimes discovered upon evaluation for digestive tract bleeding with severe anemia. An 11-year-old who was not under medication and had no history of pain was admitted for isolated regenerative anemia (5.6 g/dl) due to digestive tract bleeding. Laboratory tests showed only low serum iron and ferritin levels. Endoscopy disclosed hemorrhagic inflammation of the duodenal cap and antritis with a hillocky appearance. The diagnosis of H. pylori infection was established on the basis of the finding of curved Gram-negative rods on the smears and of a positive urea test. There was moderate interstitial antritis. The patient was given an H2 antagonist (ranitidine) and amoxicillin with tinidazole for six weeks. Serum IgG antibodies against H. pylori were found in the child's parents and siblings, with the exception of a 7 month old infant. A ten year old sister had been hospitalized two years earlier for hemorrhagic duodenitis ascribed at the time to use of acetylsalicylic acid. H. pylori has been reported in 40% to 95% of pediatric patients with primary gastritis. Physicians should be familiar with this frequent, often familial disease. Management rests on concomitant administration of two antimicrobials and an acid secretion inhibitor to the index patient and family members. Endoscopy is too invasive to be appropriate for monitoring the outcome. In practice, recovery is affirmed on the basis of resolution of clinical manifestations and decreased levels of anti-H. pylori antibodies.