CORRELATION BETWEEN SEROLOGICAL AND MUCOSAL INFLAMMATORY RESPONSES TOHELICOBACTER-PYLORI

In 82 patients who underwent gastroduodenoscopy, acute and chronic gas tric mucosal inflammation was scored for severity, and systemic humora l immune responses to Helicobacter pylori antigens were assessed by en zyme-linked immunosorbent assays. On the basis of culture, gastric his tology, and serologic evaluation, 33 patients were classified as H. py lori infected and 36 were classified as uninfected. Thirteen patients had negative cultures and stains but were seropositive and were analyz ed separately from the other two groups. Specific serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) subclass responses to H. pylori whole-cell antigens and speci fic IgG responses to the 54-kDa heat shock protein homolog (Hp54K) and vacuolating cytotoxin were significantly greater in infected than in uninfected patients as were specific IgA responses to whole-cell antig ens and cytotoxin (P < 0.001). Among the H. pylori-infected persons, s erum IgG responses to Hp54K and to the vacuolating cytotoxin were corr elated with acute mucosal inflammatory scores. In contrast, serum IgA responses to whole-cell sonicate and to vacuolating cytotoxin were inv ersely related to chronic inflammatory scores. By multivariant regress ion analysis, only specific serum IgG responses to Hp54K correlated wi th severity of inflammation (both acute and chronic; P < 0.001); these responses may be markers of inflammation or these antibodies could pl ay a direct role in the pathogenesis of H. pylori-induced inflammation .