Antibody to the gastric campylobacter-like organism ("Campylobacter pyloridis")--clinical correlations and distribution in the normal population.

Different cellular proteins of the gastric campylobacter-like organism (GCLO) were shown to be immunogenic for man. Antibodies to GCLO were detected in sera by both complement fixation and enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay. Antibody was found in 133 (52%) of 254 patients attending for gastroscopy. There was a high correlation between presence of antibody and a positive GCLO culture from the gastric mucus. Patients with normal endoscopic appearances, duodenal ulcer, duodenitis and oesophagitis had similar prevalences (c. 50%) of antibody. Only patients with endoscopically visible gastritis or gastric ulcer had a higher frequency (c. 80%) of antibody. In a normal population, antibody was uncommon in individuals less than 20 years old, but the prevalence of antibody increased (to c. 50%) with age. There was little evidence to support an important pathological role for GCLO in disorders of the upper gastrointestinal tract, although the possibility that it may be a co-factor in the pathogenesis of gastric ulcer cannot be excluded.