APPLICATION OF GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY-MASS SPECTROMETRY FOR ASSESSMENT OF THE INTESTINAL MICROFLORA CONDITION IN CHILDREN WITH CHRONIC GASTRITIS

Objectives: This study is aimed at assessing condition of intestinal microflora in children with chronic gastritis in different phases of the disease and after a course of probiotic treatment using of gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Methods: This longitudinal study was conducted among 90 children aged 11–15 years with Helicobacter pylori positive morphologically proven chronic gastritis (CG). 22 healthy children matched by age and gender with the children of the main group were taken as comparison group. Children with CG have been investigated repeatedly in the period of exacerbation, 6 months after the successful eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection and after a one-month course of probiotic medicine. As the probiotic medicine, a complex probiotic Bifiform containing at least 107 Bifidobacteriun longum and at least 107 Enterococcus faecium was used. To assess the state of intestinal microbiota we use GC-MS – detecting species-specific fatty acids as genetically determined structural components of the cell wall. Results: In children with chronic gastritis both in acute and remission phases in 100% of cases were revealed changes in composition of the intestinal microflora affecting not only intraluminal but parietal microflora. In phase of exacerbation, microbiota disorders were expressed by decreased number of obligate bacteria (bifidobacteria, lactobacilli). In phase of remission the revealed changes saved and characterized by decreased number not only bifidobacteria, lactobacilli but propionobacterium and increased number of such opportunistic bacteria as clostridia (Clostridium histolyticum, Clostridium propionicum, and Clostridium ramosum), streptococci, Candida fungi. Excessive proliferation of Candida albicans were found in 16.5% (95% CI 12 – 21.2) children in exacerbation phase and in 30% (95% CI 22.2 – 38.8) in phase of remission (р = 0.0412). Intensity of violations of parietal microflora were significantly associated (р < 0.05) with morphological changes of gastric mucous. After a course of probiotic treatment were found positive changes in composition of the gut microbiota characterizing by increasing number of bifidobacteria and enrecocci, and decreased number of clostridia and Candida fungi. Conclusion: Chronic gastritis in children is commonly associated with negative changes in parietal microflora in acute phase and in 6 months. Using of gas chromatography - mass spectrometry for studying and evaluating the intestinal microflora in children with chronic gastritis can significantly extend the range of the defined microbiota and its possible changes in different phases in diseases.