PREDICTIVE VALUE OF A RAPID LATEX AGGLUTI NATION-TEST FOR HELICOBACTER-PYLORI INFECTION (PYLORISET) IN CHILDREN SUFFERING FROM RECURRENT ABDOMINAL-PAIN

In a prospective investigation, a rapid latex test for Helicobacter py lori in the serum (Pyloriset) was carried out in 39 patients with recu rrent abdominal pain aged from six to 15 years. The test was positive in 19 patients. All of these children were subjected to gastroduodenos copy. Seven cases showed a Helicobacter-associated chronic active antr um gastritis, whereas in the remaining 12 children gastritis not induc ed by Helicobacter or normal mucosa was found. Of the 20 Pyloriset-neg ative patients, only five could be biopsied. One of these showed a Hel icobacter pylori-induced antrum gastritis. The latex test investigated had a positive predictive value which was too low (37%) to make it he lpful in deciding for or against gastroduodenoscopy and the general an esthesia mostly associated with this.