[Evaluation of two commercial kits for detection of Helicobacter pylori specific antibodies in patients undergoing gastroscopy. A seroprevalence study in an asymptomatic population].

BACKGROUND

We evaluate two different commercially available kits for detecting specific antibodies against Helicobacter pylori in a group of 48 patients with gastrointestinal symptoms that underwent an endoscopic procedure. We also study the seroprevalence of anti-H. pylori antibodies in asimptomatic individuals from our area.

METHODS

Microbiologic and pathologic studies were performed in 48 gastric biopsies, in relation with antibodies detection using ELISA (Pylori stat test, Whittaker) and latex particles agglutination (Pyloriset, Orion). We also used ELISA tests for determining the seroprevalence of H. pylori antibodies in 139 asimptomatic individuals.

RESULTS

Ninety-four percent of patients with peptic ulcer disease and 81% of patients without peptic ulcer disease but complaining of dyspepsia were infected by H. pylori. None of the patients with normal gastric mucosae was found to be infected. Sensitivity and specificity of ELISA test were 100% and 73%. Latex test sensitivity and specificity were 46% and 82%. The seroprevalence of antibodies among healthy individuals in our area increases with age (19% among children under 9 years of age) and reaches a peak at 40-49 years of age (84%), with a mean value of 60% in all ages' groups.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a high correlation between Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric mucosa alterations. The ELISA test is best correlated with other laboratory data used for defining infection. The seroprevalence of H. pylori antibodies is also high, and therefore we recommend that the use of serologic diagnostic test must be highly selective.