title: Serum pepsinogen levels in gastric cancer patients and their relationship with Helicobacter pylori infection: a prospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Our aim was to study the serum pepsinogen levels in gastric cancer patients in our population in relation to histology and the presence of Helicobacter pylori.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-six patients with gastric cancer and 70 controls were studied prospectively in a 1-year period. Serum levels of pepsinogen I (PG I), pepsinogen II (PG II), and gastrin were measured by radioimmunoassay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean PG I levels for cancer patients and controls were 83.5 microg/l and 60.9 microg/l, respectively (P = 0.03), the mean PG II levels were 27.2 microg/l and 12.1 microg/l respectively (P < 0.0001). The PG I/II ratio was significantly lower in cancer patients (P = 0.04) and in those with Helicobacter infection. Serum pepsinogen levels were not affected by any pathological characteristics. Histology showed that the prevalence of chronic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia, and gastric atrophy was 97%, 56%, and 15%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of gastric atrophy is low in our population, and serum pepsinogen measurement is not useful as a screening tool for gastric cancer in this population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, National University Hospital, Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119072, Republic of Singapore.
authors.forename: Jimmy Bok-Yan
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: So
authors.forename: Khay-Guan
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Yeoh
authors.forename: Shabbir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moochala
authors.forename: Naresh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chachlani
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Wai-Keong
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mack
authors.forename: Peter M-Y
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Goh
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005755:Gastrins / Q000097:blood*; D005757:Gastritis, Atrophic / Q000150:complications; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020116:Pepsinogen A / Q000097:blood*; D020115:Pepsinogen C / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D005755:Gastrins; D020115:Pepsinogen C; D020116:Pepsinogen A