The
IgG antibody response specific to
Helicobacter pylori was evaluated through
ELISA in a group of 92 gastric
patients colonized by this
bacteria . 74 had
gastritis and 19
gastroduodenal ulcer . Three
control groups were studied in a similary way normal
adult volunteers (n=17),
adults with
E coli or S typhi
bacteremia (n=30) and normal
infants (n = 30).
IgG antibody response to H pylori was demonstrated in 98% of colonized
patients and 0% of
infants . Asymptomatic individuals and those with
bacteremia had high rates of
antibody response (76 and 90% respectively), although this rate and also the titers of
antibody response were significantly lower than that of colonized
patients (p < 0.05).
ELISA reactive sera from colonized
patients and asymptomatic individuals evidenced a
similar antibody pattern when tested by blotting. This profile was absent in non reactive sera, including those with high antibody titers to C jejuni. The presence of specific
IgG antibodies to H pylory in the majority of colonized gastric
patients and asymptomatic
adults suggest that this
infection is very common in our
population