Serum pepsinogen I and II concentrations and IgG antibody to Helicobacter pylori in dyspeptic patients.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association between histologically confirmed gastritis, carriage of Helicobacter pylori and pepsinogen (PG) I and PG II concentrations.


METHODS
Prospective study of 81 dyspeptic patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was made. The extent of gastric mucosal inflammation and the presence of H pylori was determined, and serology to evaluate PG I and II concentrations and IgG titres to H pylori was carried out.


RESULTS
The presence of H pylori was strongly correlated with high IgG antibody titres to H pylori and gastritis. Patients who were H pylori positive had significantly higher PG I and PG II concentrations and a significantly lower PG I:PG II ratio than patients who were negative for H pylori. In 13 patients with duodenal ulcer and H pylori positive gastritis serum PG I concentrations were significantly higher than in H pylori positive patients without duodenal ulcer. Significant correlations were found between the age of patients and serum PG II, the PG I:PG II ratio, IgG antibodies to H pylori, the severity of body gastritis and H pylori infection, and between the degree of gastritis in the body of the stomach and the PG II concentration.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum PG I and II concentrations, together with a fall in the PG I:PG II ratio, could be used as predictors of H pylori infection as well as serum IgG antibody response to H pylori.
Biasco
G
G
First Medical Clinic, University of Bologna, Italy.
Paganelli
G M
GM
Vaira
D
D
Holton
J
J
Di Febo
G
G
Brillanti
S
S
Miglioli
M
M
Barbara
L
L
Samloff
I M
IM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005756:Gastritis / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000276:immunology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010435:Pepsinogens / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D010435:Pepsinogens