SEROLOGICAL INDICATORS OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI INFECTION IN ADULT DYSPEPTIC PATIENTS AND HEALTHY BLOOD-DONORS

The levels of IgM, IgG and IgA antibodies reacting with two Helicobact er pylori antigens (glycine acid extract (GE) and a recombinant CagA p rotein) were determined in the sera from adult dyspeptic patients, pos itive (H.p.((+))) or negative (H.p.((-))) for H. pylori urease/culture , and from healthy blood donors. All sera were also examined against G E by Western blot (immunoblot) technique. Similar levels of anti-GE Ig G were detected in the sera from all H.p.((+)) and almost all H.p.((-) ) patients and from over 40% of the healthy volunteers. In contrast, h igher levels of anti-GE IgA were found in the sera from patients than that from healthy subjects, although such antibodies were not detected in the sera from 30% of the H.p.((+)) patients. In general, our resul ts suggest that a combination of ELISA and immunoblot may be more sens itive in the detection of H. pylori infection in dyspeptic patients th an the examination of biopsy specimens by culturing or histology.