DETECTION OF SERUM IGG ANTIBODY AGAINST HELICOBACTER-PYLORI FROM CHILDHOOD IN A JAPANESE POPULATION

Epidemiological evidence has shown that seropositivity for Helicobacte r pylori in the stomach is positively correlated with the incidence of gastric cancer. In this study, we investigated serum IgG antibody aga inst H. pylori in asymptomatic Japanese subjects by an enzyme-linked i mmunoassay (ELISA) method (Serion, Wuerzburg, Germany). We noted two c haracteristics: (1) Seropositivity was seen in 41% of individuals aged less than 1 year, and in 9% of those aged 1-2 years, indicating the p ossibility that IgG antibody in infancy is derived from the mother. (2 ) Seropositivity was seen in 35% of individuals aged 15-19 years compa red to 70% in those aged 20-24 years, indicating the spread of H. pylo ri infection with age.