H. pylori stool antigen [HpSA]: anew simple test for detection of infection

Thirty patient with duodenal ulcer who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were selected for assessment of HpSA immunoassay test in detection of H.pylori infection [16 male [53.3%], 14 female [46.7%] mean age 42 +/- 1 year]. Patients with previous surgery, use of antibiotics, proton pump inhibitors or any compound containing bithmus up to one month before study were excluded. All patients were assessed clinically, upper endoscopy and biopsies from antrum were taken for urease test and culture, blood samples were analyzed for H.pylori IgG antibodies by ELIZA. Stool samples were taken for HpSA immunoassay using [Medridian-Diagnostic-inc-cinncina oH immunoassay]. From the 27 patients diagnosed by culture as H.pylori positive, urease test detected 96%, IgG antibodies were positive in 93% and HpSA immunoassay detected 70%. The sensitivity and the specificity of HpSA test in comparison to culture were 70.4% and 100% respectively and to urease test were 73.1% and 100% respectively. HpSA immunoassay test is simple rapid non invasive, specific test for detection of H.pylori infection

Helicobacter pylori infection. Is it a risk factor in the pathogenesis of coronary heart disease?

To determine whether H. pylori infection is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease, 100 men with myocardial infarction and/or ischaemia [mean age 52.6 +/- 6.9 years] and 100 healthy control subjects matched for age, sex and BMI were included in this study. All patients and control subjects were assessed clinically and by resting electrocardiograms. Fasting venous blood samples were analyzed for H. pylori specific IgG antibodies by ELISA, plasma fibrinogen, serum cholesterol, triglycerides and total leucocytic count. 28% of patients with coronary heart disease were seropositive to H. pylori infection versus 61% seropositive in control group [P < 0.05]. Plasma fibrinogen levels were significantly elevated in seropositive patients and control subjects when compared with seronegative groups [cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels and total leucocytic count]. There was no significant difference in the rates of H. pylori infection between patients with myocardial infarction and patients with angina In conclusion, H. pylori infection was significantly associated with the increased risk of coronary heart disease. This risk can be explained in part by elevated fibrinogen levels in seropositive patients and control subjects