USE OF SERUM SPECIFIC IMMUNOGLOBULIN ANTIBODIES TO DETERMINE HELICOBACTER-PYLORI-ASSOCIATED GASTRITIS

A prospective study in 169 consecutive patients referred for upper gas trointestinal endoscopy was initiated to investigate the diagnostic pe rformance of serum Helicobacter pylori (HP) specific immunoglobulin (I g) G antibodies. Using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) an excellent correlation between serologic evidence of HP and the demons tration of this organism by histology and urease test in 79 HP-positiv e patients was found. Serum IgG also correlated with the histological degree and the activity of gastritis. Our results demonstrate that ser um IG G antibodies, as determined by ELISA, are highly useful for diag nosis of HP-associated gastritis.