Lack of correlation between vacuolating cytotoxin activity,cagA gene inHelicobacter pylori, and peptic ulcer disease in children

To determine the prevalence of thecagA gene and vacuolating cytotoxin inHelicobacter pylori isolates obtained from children and to characterize the relationship betweencagA, cytotoxin production, and ulcerogenesis, pediatricHelicobacter pylori isolates were tested forcagA by the polymerase chain reaction and for vacuolating cytotoxin by a cell culture assay.Helicobacter pylori isolates were obtained from 33 children referred for upper …