title: Downward shift in serum IgM with Helicobacter pylori seropositivity.
abstract: 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.
authors: Therapeutics in the Elderly, Research Group, Northwick Park and St Mark's Hospitals, Harrow, HA1 3UJ, UK.
authors: R J
authors: RJ
authors: Dobbs
authors: S M
authors: SM
authors: Dobbs
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Charlett
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Weller
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M