Dmm. Queiroz et al., Serological and direct diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori in gastric carcinoma: a case-control study, J MED MICRO, 48(5), 1999, pp. 501-506
This study evaluated the sensitivity of serological and direct methods for
the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection in 127 patients with gastric
carcinoma and in 127 controls without this disease, matched for age and se
x. Antral and oxyntic mucosal specimens were obtained from all patients, at
operation in patients with gastric carcinoma and at endoscopy from control
s. The urease test, microscopy of stained smears and culture for H. pylori
were performed on all specimens. Sera from all patients were tested for ant
ibodies to H, pylori by a highly sensitive and specific IgG-ELISA, Culture,
urease test, stained smear and ELISA were significantly less sensitive in
the patients with gastric carcinoma than in control subjects. However, the
combination of several methods improved the diagnosis of H, pylori infectio
n in the gastric carcinoma group. Infection was significantly more frequent
in the gastric carcinoma patients than in the controls. H, pylori infectio
n was associated with an increased risk of developing gastric carcinoma.