Relation between IgG and IgA antibody titres against Helicobacter pylori in serum and severity of gastritis in asymptomatic subjects. Issue 3 (March 1994)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kreuning, J; Lindeman, J; Biemond, I; Lamers, C B
• Is Part Of: Journal of clinical pathology. Volume 47:Issue 3(1994)
• Page Start: 227
• Page End: 231
• Publication Date: 1994-03
• Subjects: Pathology -- Periodicals; Pathology, Molecular -- Periodicals; 616.0705
• DOI: 10.1136/jcp.47.3.227
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-9746

Abstract

Abstract : AIMS--To investigate whether the absorbance index of IgG and IgA antibodies against Helicobacter pylori is related to a semiquantitative assessment of the density of H pylori colonisation in gastric biopsy specimens and to the severity of gastritis. METHODS--The grade of gastritis was scored separately for antral and fundic mucosa using three different classifications. Serum IgA and IgG antibodies against H pylori were measured by ELISA. The density of gastric H pylori colonisation was graded semiquantitatively from 0 to 3. RESULTS--Among 48 healthy volunteers studied, 17 were found to have gastritis according to Whitehead's criteria. H pylori was present in the biopsy specimens of 14 of 17 subjects with gastritis. The IgG H pylori antibody absorbance index was significantly (p < 0.05) correlated not only with the density of antral H pylori colonisation, but also with the degree of gastritis of the antrum, as assessed by the Whitehead score, activity, and the Sydney system (p < 0.05). The IgA H pylori antibody absorbance index was significantly correlated with the Whitehead score and Sydney system, but not with the activity score of the antrum or with the density of antral gastric H pylori infection. There were no significant correlations between the IgG H pylori antibody absorbance index and the gastritis scores of the fundus mucosa and the density of H pylori infection of the gastric body. The IgA H pylori antibody absorbance index was only significantly (p < 0.05) correlated with the density of H pylori colonisation and the Sydney system gastritis score of the corpus. CONCLUSIONS--The serological absorbance index of IgG antibodies against H pylori is related to the severity of antral gastritis and the density of antral H pylori colonisation. Thus a high absorbance index of IgG antibodies against H pylori points to severe antral gastritis and dense H pylori colonisation of the antrum.