Immune response to Helicobacter pylori infection in endemic hepatosplenomegaly patients

ABSTRACT

Patients with endemic hepatosplenomegaly and evidence of portal hypertension have gastritis as a common finding. while H. pylori is accused to be an aetiological agent of gastritis and peptic ulcer. Three groups of patients. The first 23 had endemic hepatosplenomegaly and evidence of portal hypertension, the second 22 patients had endemic hepatosplenomegaly only, while the last 21 patients were suffering from gastrointestinal disturbances. The percentage of isolation of H. pylori in the three groups ranged between 47. 8% and 59% while the percentage of identification ranged between 82. 6% and 90.0.The protein concentration of the H. pylori antigen in a whole cell sonicate of 10 strains was determined, and the protein profile of the antigen preparation was examined using SDS-page. The values of absorbances of the Ig[G] and Ig[A] in the sera of the patients were determined using an in house prepared and a commercially purchased ELIZA test. When comparing between the mean values of absorbances [Ig[G] and Ig[A]] of the three groups of patients it was found that the first group of patients had their mean value of absorbance significantly higher than patients of group two and three. The Ig[M] mean values of absorbances did not show any statisticaly significant difference between the three groups of patients. Seven patients received a course of triple therapy for two weeks, five patients showed a decline in their antibody levels [Ig[G] and Ig[A]] six weeks post treatment, while two patients had their antibody levels unchanged. It was concluded that hepatosplenomegalic patients with portal hypertension suffer a heavier bacterial innoculum, and long term treatment in an attempt to erradicate H. pylori would improve the accompanied gastritis and avoid the expected sequalae