Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
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J. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. · Aug 2003
Lactoferrin sequestration and its contribution to iron-deficiency anemia in Helicobacter pylori-infected gastric mucosa.
It is known that lactoferrin serves as a source of iron for Helicobacter pylori in gastric mucosa. The present study was undertaken to investigate the relationship between lactoferrin and H. pylori infection coexistent with iron-deficiency anemia by determining the lactoferrin levels in gastric biopsy specimens, and by locating the major sites of lactoferrin expression, according to the presence or absence of iron-deficiency anemia. ⋯ The lactoferrin sequestration in the gastric mucosa of HPIDA was remarkable, and this finding seems to give a clue that leads to the clarification of the mechanism by which H. pylori infection contributes to iron-deficiency anemia.