Comparison of helicobacter serum

ABSTRACT

The objective of the study is to compare the helicobacter pylori high molecular weight cell associated protein, IgG enzyme immunoassay [HM.CAP, IgG EIA] with the campylobacter-like organism preformed urease campylobacter-like-organism [CLO test] as an indication of the presence of H.pylori among patients with dyspepsia. One hundred and six Saudi patients with dyspepsia or abdominal pain who had gastroscopy between July and September 1993, at the Gastroenterology Department of the Riyadh Armed Forces Hospital, were included in the study Antral biopsy was collected from each patient for CLO test, while a serum sample was obtained for H.pylori immunoassay test using the HM.CAP immunoassay kit from Enteric Products Inc. Specimens were sent to the microbiology laboratory blind without indicating the clinical findings or the result of the CLO test performed in the Gastroenterology Department. In 60 of these patients [56.6%] both tests were positive and in 12 cases both tests were negative. The concordance of the two tests was 68%. The most common abnormal gastroscopic findings were gastritis or gastric erosion in 24 patients and in 12 [50%] of them, both the CLO test and serology were positive. Both tests were found useful for screening for the presence of H.pylori. A screening strategy based on serology could play an important role in reducing endoscopy workload and for follow-up of patients with H.pylori infection