title: Helicobacter pylori serology at diagnosis and follow-up of biopsy-verified infection in children.
abstract: Data on the use of Helicobacter pylori serology in children are limited. We studied the serum antibodies of 105 H. pylori-infected children (median age 9.1 y, range 1.5-17.5 y) using an in-house enzyme immunoassay. At diagnosis of the biopsy-verified infection, IgG antibodies to H. pylori were elevated in 98/105 children (93%) but were at a normal level in 7 children, 5 of whom were < 5 y of age. Serum IgA antibodies to H. pylori were elevated in 40/105 children (38%). The levels of IgG and IgA antibody titers to H. pylori correlated with age (p < 0.001 and p < 0.02, respectively). IgG titers were reduced by > or = 50% in 85% (83/98; median follow-up 0.6 y) of children after therapy. In 56 such children eradication was verified by negative histology or urea breath test but I such child showed Helicobacters on histologic examination. Of the 15 children whose IgG titers dropped by < 50%, 7 were considered positive and 4 negative on the basis of histology or urea breath test. In 3 children, IgG titers returned to pretreatment levels 1 y after a 50% drop was seen. Serology is 1 alternative for monitoring H. pylori infection in children, although its sensitivity is lower in very young children. The length of follow-up needed after eradication, however, is unclear.
authors.affiliation: Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland. kaija-leena.kolho@helsinki.fi
authors.forename: Kaija-Leena
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Kolho
authors.forename: Jaana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Korhonen
authors.forename: Matti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Verkasalo
authors.forename: Harry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lindahl
authors.forename: Erkki
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Savilahti
authors.forename: Hilpi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rautelin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers; D001706:Biopsy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D016015:Logistic Models; D012698:Serologic Tests
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D015415:Biomarkers; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G