title: Serum pepsinogen I and II concentrations and IgG antibody to Helicobacter pylori in dyspeptic patients.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: First Medical Clinic, University of Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Biasco
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Paganelli
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vaira
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Holton
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Febo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brillanti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miglioli
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barbara
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Samloff
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D010435:Pepsinogens