Age-dependent accuracy of Helicobacter pylori antibody assays for adults, with special emphasis on atrophic gastritis.
The accuracy of Helicobacter pylori antibody assays for 561 consecutive adult outpatients who had undergone gastroscopy was studied. The sensitivity of an immunoglobulin G test was 99 to 100% for all age groups, but the specificity declined by age group, from 99% for those aged 15 to 49 years to 75% for those aged > or =65 years. The exclusion of false-positive results for patients with atrophic gastritis improved the specificity to 93 to 97% for the older age groups.
Salomaa-Räsänen
A
A
Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Haartman Institute, PO Box 21 (Haartmaninkatu 3), FIN-00014 University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. anniina.salomaa@helsinki.fi
Kosunen
T U
TU
Mattila
J
J
Sarna
S
S
Rautelin
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005757:Gastritis, Atrophic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial