The contribution of specific immunoglobulin M antibodies to the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection in children.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the diagnostic value of specific immunoglobulins G and M in the detection of Helicobacter pylori infection.


METHODS
Sera from 68 H. pylori-infected children and 35 H. pylori-negative children (aged 1-15 years) were examined using recent-generation serum enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests (Malakit Helicobacter pylori series; Biolab, Limal, Belgium).


RESULTS
All of the investigated children had positive values for immunoglobulin G antibodies. However, anti-H. pylori-specific immunoglobulin M could be detected only in 19 (27.9%) of the 68 children. When compared with the 13C-urea breath test, these findings represent sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values of 27.9, 100, 100 and 41.7%, respectively, for the serum ELISA test for the detection of H. pylori-specific immunoglobulin M compared with 100.0, 97.2, 98.5 and 100.0%, respectively, for the Malakit for the detection of specific immunoglobulin G antibodies.


CONCLUSIONS
Although H. pylori-specific immunoglobulin G has been established as a reliable indicator of active H. pylori infection, using the Malakit for the detection of H. pylori-specific immunoglobulin M does not seem to be of major value in the diagnosis of H. pylori infection in children.
Blecker
U
U
Division of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Academic Children's Hospital, Free University of Brussels, Belgium.
Lanciers
S
S
Hauser
B
B
de Pont
S M
SM
Vandenplas
Y
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D000918:Antibody Specificity / Q000276:immunology*; D001944:Breath Tests; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests
D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M