SEROLOGICAL DETECTION OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI ANTIBODIES IN CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS

The antibody response to Helicobacter pylori was examined in 56 childr en (ages 5 to 18) to determine whether serological tests can be used f or diagnosis. Twenty-four children (43%) were H. pylori positive and 3 2 children (57%) were H. pylori negative by culture and histological e xamination of endoscopic biopsy specimens. The immune response was als o examined in 39 nonendoscoped parents of the children. H. pylori-spec ific immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgA antibodies were detected by the ho w microsphere immunofluorescent assay (FMIA). IgG was also detected by using the Pyloristat enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The s ensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values f or the FMIA for IgG were 100, 97, 96, and 100%, respectively. The resp ective values for the Pyloristat ELISA for IgG were 96, 94, 92, and 97 %. The respective values for the FMIA for IgA were 50, 100, 100, and 7 3%. Both assays identified the same 19 parents as IgG positive, while FMIA identified 17 of the 19 parents as IgA positive.