[Seroprevalence of antibodies against Helicobacter pylori CagA antigen in patients with gastric ulcer in the North region of Brazil].
Helicobacter pylori is a pathogenic agent with a worldwide distribution and is involved in the development of many gastrointestinal diseases. Nowadays infection with the virulent strain CagA+ of H. pylori is considered one of the main etiological factors in the development of gastric ulcer. Based on this information, we investigated the seroprevalence of virulent strains among patients with gastric ulcer from one region, using serologic tests to detect antibodies against H. pylori and CagA protein. Infection by the virulent strain was found in 82% (40/55) of the patients, and among these, 89% (40/45) presented an increased degree of inflammation in the gastric mucosa, with a dense infiltration of leukocytes in the tissue, which probably favored the formation of gastric ulcer. We concluded that the presence of the virulent strain is related to the development of an increased inflammation in the gastric mucosa.
Martins
Luisa Caricio
LC
Laboratório de Imunogenética, Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA. lu-caricio@bol.com.br
Corvelo
Tereza Cristina de Oliveira
TC
Oti
Henrique Takeshi
HT
Barile
Katarine Antônia dos Santos
KA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C080866:cagA protein, Helicobacter pylori