Helicobacter pylori Infection Is Associated With Low Serum Ferritin Levels in Israeli Arab Children-A Seroepidemiologic Study

We examined the association between Helicobacter pylori seropositivity and low ferritin levels in sera of 509 Israeli Arab children aged I to 19 years. Serum ferritin levels were Measured using the immunoturbidity assay. ELISA was used to detect serum l.-G antibodies to H. pylori and I-G antibodies to H. pylori CagA(+) strains. Low ferritin level was found between 14.5% and 8.6% of the H pylori seropositive and seronegative participants, respectively (P=0.035). A trend for a higher frequency of low ferritin was detected among H pylori-CagA seropositive children. Multivariate analysis showed an increased frequency of low ferritin only among children younger than or equal to 5 years: adjusted OR 4.62 CI 1.53-13.99) P = 0.007. JPGN 49:262-264, 2009.