HELICOBACTER pylori (H. pylori) seropositivity was more common in Bulgarian children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) than in controls, according to a study of 334 children. The researchers assessed the prevalence of H. pylori immunoglobulin G (IgG) and CagA IgG antibodies in children with Type 1 diabetes.
Overall, 20.4% of children were H. pylori seropositive and 15.0% were CagA seropositive. Seropositivity also varied by age. Among children aged 1–6 years, 12.2% tested positive for H. pylori and 8.7% for CagA. Among those aged 7–17 years, the corresponding figures were 24.7% and 18.3%, respectively.
The study included 145 children with Type 1 diabetes and 189 control participants. H. pylori seropositivity was identified in 28.3% of children with Type 1 diabetes, compared with 14.3% of controls.
CagA seropositivity was also more frequent among children with Type 1 diabetes. Overall, 23.4% of children with Type 1 diabetes were CagA positive, compared with 8.5% of controls.
The researchers found that H. pylori seropositivity was approximately twice as common among children with Type 1 diabetes as in controls. CagA seropositivity was approximately three times more frequent among children with Type 1 diabetes.
The authors noted that H. pylori seropositivity may worsen glycaemic control and diabetes management in children with Type 1 diabetes.
The findings suggested that early identification of children who were H. pylori or CagA seropositive could have potential long-term implications. If seropositivity were confirmed as active infection, early diagnosis could potentially reduce the lifetime risk of gastric cancer and peptic ulcers in adulthood.
However, the study assessed seropositivity and did not establish active H. pylori infection. The findings therefore did not establish whether the children had an active infection.
The authors called for additional prospective research before screening recommendations were issued. The study provided evidence of higher H. pylori and CagA seropositivity among Bulgarian children with Type 1 diabetes, while further research was needed to determine the clinical significance of these findings.
Reference
Boyanova L et al. Increased prevalence of Helicobacter pylori and CagA seropositivity in Bulgarian children with type 1 diabetes mellitus. J Infect Chemother. 2026;32(11):103061.
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