[Utilization of polymerase chain reaction for detection and genotyping of Helicobacter pylori in gastric biopsy using paraffin: a retrospective study].
BACKGROUND
Helicobacter pylori infection is presumed to be the major causal agent of chronic active gastritis in humans. The persistent infection with this pathogen would be an important factor in the pathogenesis of peptic ulcer and also gastric cancer.


METHODS
We investigated relationship between H. pylori characteristics in 42 patients with normal mucosa or gastritis with minor changes and 40 patients with mild and severe gastritis. Detection and typing of vacA and cagA genes were performed using a polymerase chain reaction method.


RESULTS
The analysis of vacA prevalence and the type (S1 or S2) showed non-significant differences between the two groups studied (p > 0.05). However, cagA analysis showed highly significant differences between the groups classified as normal tissue-weak gastritis and mild-severe gastritis (p < 0.0001; OR = 8.4; CI = 3.1-22.8).


CONCLUSIONS
cagA status is associated to the grade of gastritis, finding higher frequencies of H. pylori cagA+ in the moderate-severe gastritis group. These highly significant differences could make cagA status a genetic marker for disease progress.
Golijow
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CD
Centro de Investigaciones en Genética Básica y Aplicada (CIGEBA), Fac. de Cs. Veterinarias-UNLP, Calle 60 y 118 s/n B1900VW, La Plata, Argentina. egolijow@fcv.medvet.unlp.edu.ar
Abba
M C
MC
Collura
J
J
Laguens
R M
RM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005756:Gastritis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005819:Genetic Markers; D005838:Genotype; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D005819:Genetic Markers; C074689:VacA protein, Helicobacter pylori; C080866:cagA protein, Helicobacter pylori