Downward shift in serum IgM with Helicobacter pylori seropositivity.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with premature immune ageing, with respect to circulating immunoglobulins.


METHODS
Serum immunoglobulin classes and H. pylori anti-urease antibody were measured in 205 subjects (aged 30-89 years), obeying inclusion/exclusion criteria.


RESULTS
IgM decreased (P<0.001) by 0.9 (95% C.I. 0.3, 1.4)% per year, H. pylori seropositivity having an effect equivalent to 25 years of ageing (P<0.02). IgA increased by 0.5 (0.1, 0.8)% per year (P<0.007), IgG being unaffected by age. Seropositivity had no effect on IgA or IgG.


CONCLUSIONS
Increasing age and H. pylori seropositivity are each associated with a downward shift in circulating IgM. If clinical extrapolation is justified, H. pylori eradication may be important in combating susceptibility to infection in old age.
Dobbs
R J
RJ
Therapeutics in the Elderly, Research Group, Northwick Park and St Mark's Hospitals, Harrow, HA1 3UJ, UK.
Dobbs
S M
SM
Charlett
A
A
Weller
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M