For patients with
haemophilia, gastrointestinal (GI)
bleeding is a life-threatening complication and can be caused by the Helicobacter pylori
infection. Among children with
haemophilia who had visited with GI
bleeding, the prevalence of H. pylori
infection and the recurrence rate after H. pylori eradication was investigated. Seven children with
haemophilia A with
hematemesis (age: 5.3-17.0 years) were evaluated for the causes of GI
bleeding and the detection of H. pylori. Gastroendoscopy was done to find the
bleeding focus and for further evaluation including rapid
urease test and mucosal biopsy. Four patients had
dyspepsia and
abdominal pain for several weeks or months prior to
hematemesis. Three patients did not show any symptoms of
bleeding. From gastroendoscopy, four patients were diagnosed as
duodenal ulcer, one as H. pylori associated chronic
gastritis and one as haemorrhagic
gastritis. One patient showing a normal finding was diagnosed with adenoid haemorrhage after nasopharyngoscopy. Helicobacter pylori
infection was found in four of six patients with GI
bleeding (3,
duodenal ulcer; 1, H. pylori associated chronic
gastritis). The patients with H. pylori
infection had an eradication treatment of triple
therapy and no recurrence happened. In children with
haemophilia, H. pylori should also be considered as an important cause of GI
bleeding. The recurrence of the
infection and GI
bleeding can be prevented with eradication of H. pylori. Screening test for H. pylori would be needed in children with
haemophilia in endemic area.