THE CONTRIBUTION OF SPECIFIC IMMUNOGLOBULIN-M ANTIBODIES TO THE DIAGNOSIS OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI INFECTION IN CHILDREN

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic value of specific immunoglobulin s G and M in the detection of Helicobacter pylori infection. Methods: Sera from 68 H. pylori-infected children and 35 H. pylori-negative chi ldren (aged 1-15 years) were examined using recent-generation serum en zyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests (Malakit Helicobacter py lori series; Biolab, Limal, Belgium). Results: All of the investigated children had positive values for immunoglobulin G antibodies. However , anti-H. pylori-specific immunoglobulin M could be detected only in 1 9 (27.9%) of the 68 children. When compared with the C-13-urea breath test, these findings represent sensitivity, specificity and positive a nd negative predictive values of 27.9, 100, 100 and 41.7%, respectivel y, for the serum ELISA test for the detection of H. pylori-specific im munoglobulin M compared with 100.0, 97.2, 98.5 and 100.0%, respectivel y, for the Malakit for the the detection of specific immunoglobulin G antibodies. Conclusion: Although H. pylori-specific immunoglobulin G h as been established as a reliable indicator of active H. pylori infect ion, using the Malakit for the detection of H. pylori-specific immunog lobulin M does not seem to be of major value in the diagnosis of H. py lori infection in children.