title: Anti-CagA and anti-VacA antibodies in Helicobacter pylori-infected patients with and without peptic ulcer disease in Serbia and Montenegro.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The expression of two Helicobacter pylori proteins, CagA and VacA, is associated with more severe pathogenesis and clinical outcomes of the infection. However, this association varies among geographical regions and ethnic groups. We therefore evaluated CagA and VacA seroprevalence in H. pylori-positive dyspeptic patients in Serbia and Montenegro.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 173 consecutive dyspeptic patients referred to endoscopy (67M, mean age 49 +/- 15, 76 smokers), immunoblot assay was used to detect serum antibodies against CagA and VacA. Presence of H. pylori infection was assessed using a rapid urease test (RUT), routine histology and serology (anti-IgG ELISA). Duodenal ulcer (DU) was diagnosed in 28, gastric ulcer (GU) in 3 and non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD) in the remaining 142 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  129 (74.6%) patients were H. pylori-positive, 27 (96.4%) with DU, 3 (100%) with GU and 99 (69.7%) with NUD (P < 0.01); 121 (93.8%) patients carried anti-CagA antibodies and there was no difference between the DU and NUD groups. VacA antibodies were detected in sera of 50 (38.75%) and were more prevalent in patients with DU compared to the NUD group (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In Serbia and Montenegro there is high seroprevalence of CagA-positive H. pylori strains in dyspeptic patients with and without peptic ulcer, while VacA-positive strains are more closely related to peptic ulcer disease.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Institute for Digestive Diseases, Clinical Center of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro. asokic@eunet.yu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sokic-Milutinovic
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wex
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Todorovic
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Milosavljevic
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Malfertheiner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000097:blood; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000276:immunology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015022:Yugoslavia
chemical_list: D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; C074689:VacA protein, Helicobacter pylori; C080866:cagA protein, Helicobacter pylori