Mean Platelet Volume and Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Pediatric Gastritis: Relation to Helicobacter pylori Infection

Mahbubeh   Erfanipour; Mohammadreza  Esmaeili Dooki; Hossein-Ali  Nikbakht; Hassan Mahmoodi  Nesheli; Mohammad  Pornasrolah; Maryam  Nikpour; Sanaz  Mehrabani

doi:10.18502/ijpho.v16i3.21753

Mahbubeh Erfanipour Student Research Committee, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
Mohammadreza Esmaeili Dooki Professor of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Non-communicable Pediatric Diseases Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, IR Iran
Hossein-Ali Nikbakht Assistant Professor, Non-communicable Pediatric Diseases Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, IR Iran
Hassan Mahmoodi Nesheli Associate Professor of Pediatric Hematology & Oncology, Non-communicable Pediatric Diseases Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, IR Iran
Mohammad Pornasrolah Clinical Research Development Unit of Amirkola Children's Hospital, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, IR Iran
Maryam Nikpour Non-Communicable Pediatric Diseases Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, I.R.Iran
Sanaz Mehrabani Associate Professor of Pediatrics Gastroenterology, Non-Communicable Pediatric Diseases Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijpho.v16i3.21753

Keywords: Gastritis, Helicobacter pylori, Mean Platelet Volume, Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio

Abstract

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a primary contributor to chronic gastritis in children, leading to both local and systemic inflammatory responses. Although endoscopic and histopathologic evaluations are the diagnostic standards, they are invasive and costly. Recently, hematologic indices such as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and mean platelet volume (MPV) have been proposed as simple, accessible markers of systemic inflammation. However, previous studies assessing their association with H. pylori infection in pediatric gastritis have reported inconsistent findings. Therefore, the aim of this study was the assessment of MPV and NLR in pediatric gastritis and relation to helicobacter pylori Infection.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on children aged 1–17 years with gastrointestinal symptoms were candidates for endoscopy at the Gastroenterology Clinic of Amirkola Children’s Hospital. Gastric tissue samples were collected via biopsy and examined histopathologically, and H. pylori infection was confirmed using Giemsa staining. In addition, complete blood count (CBC) tests were performed for NLR and MPV measurements.

Results: The study included 126 children (mean age 10.03 ± 2.51 years). H. pylori infection was significantly associated with both endoscopic (p = 0.001) and histopathologic gastritis (p = 0.011). No significant differences were observed in NLR or MPV between H. pylori–positive and H. pylori–negative groups (p = 0.990 and p = 0.459, respectively). Similarly, NLR and MPV did not differ significantly according to the presence of histopathologic (p = 0.874 and p = 0.891, respectively) or endoscopic gastritis (p = 0.667 and p = 0.103).

Conclusion: H. pylori infection was significantly associated with endoscopic and histopathologic gastritis in children, highlighting its central role in pediatric gastritis. However, NLR and MPV showed no significant differences according to H. pylori infection or gastritis status, indicating limited diagnostic utility of these hematologic markers.