HELICOBACTER-PYLORI, PEPSINOGENS AND GASTRIN - RELATIONSHIP WITH AGE AND DEVELOPMENT OF ATROPHIC GASTRITIS

Background: Helicobacter pylori causes chronic gastritis in all infect ed individuals and thus may be a risk factor for the ultimate developm ent of atrophic gastritis and gastric cancer. The serum levels of peps inogen A, pepsinogen C and gastrin can be used as markers for both non -atrophic and atrophic gastritis. Methods: We determined the serum lev els of gastrin, pepsinogen A and pepsinogen C and the pepsinogen A/C r atio in 150 H. pylori-negative and 186 H. pylori-positive individuals. Results: The H. pylori infected patients had significantly higher ser um levels of pepsinogen A, pepsinogen C and gastrin and a significantl y lower pepsinogen A/C ratio. In the non-infected patients, none of th e respective serum values changed with increasing age. In contrast, in the infected patients, the pepsinogen A level and pepsinogen AJC rati o decreased significantly with increasing age. Conclusion: H. pylori i nfection increases serum levels of pepsinogen A, pepsinogen C and gast rin and decreases the pepsinogen A/C ratio. In infected subjects, leve ls of pepsinogen A and the pepsinogen A/C ratio decrease with ageing. These findings support the concept of H. pylori as a risk factor For t he development of atrophic gastritis.