ROLE OF SEROLOGY IN MONITORING TREATMENT FOR HELICOBACTER-PYLORI INFECTION IN ELDERLY PATIENTS

Fifteen elderly patients with type B gastritis caused by Helicobacter pylori infection were treated with triple therapy consisting of colloi dal bismuth subcitrate, amoxycillin and metronidazole. All were follow ed up every 6 weeks for 3 months. After triple therapy, eradication of the infection was confirmed in 12 patients (85%) by histology and bac teriology. In this group, a significant reduction in IgG antibody leve ls against H. pylori was detected (p < 0.001). In a control group of 1 5 patients with type B gastritis who received no antibacterial treatme nt, the specific IgG antibody titre remained unchanged during 3 months of follow-up. We conclude that this simple and noninvasive serologica l test would be suitable for follow-up after treatment of H. pylori in fection in elderly patients.