title: Serological tests for monitoring Helicobacter pylori eradication treatment.
abstract: Serological tests for the detection of Helicobacter pylori-specific antibodies are useful in epidemiological studies, as a pre-endoscopic screening procedure, and as therapeutic follow-up. For the latter application, they represent an alternative to invasive and expensive diagnostic methods such as endoscopy and breath test, respectively. However, serological tests are suitable only for long-term treatment monitoring in adults. As the significant reduction of specific antibodies, and not seronegativity by itself, is regarded as a criterion of therapeutic success, it is always necessary to establish the antibody kinetics. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based tests are best suited for this. The most relevant antibody class to be detected is H. pylori-specific IgG. The main indication for employing serology is the therapeutic follow-up of patients who, on the whole, are free of complaints.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology, University Vienna, General Hospital, Wien.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Hirschl
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Rotter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial