Analysis of serum antibody profile against H pylori VacA and CagA antigens in Turkish patients with duodenal ulcer.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the frequency of seropositivity against CagA, VacA proteins and to determine their independent effects on the development of duodenal ulcer (DU) in Turkish patients.


METHODS
The study was designed as a prospective one from a tertiary referral hospital. Dyspeptic patients who were referred to our endoscopy unit for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy between June 2003 and March 2004 and diagnosed to have DU or nonulcer dyspepsia (NUD) were included. Biopsies from the antrum and body of the stomach were taken in order to assess the current H pylori status by histology, rapid urease test and culture. Fasting sera were obtained from all patients and H pylori status of all sera was determined by IgG antibodies using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. All seropositive patients were further analysed using Western blot assays detecting IgG antibodies against CagA and VacA proteins. The c2 test was used for statistical comparison of the values and age-sex adjusted multiple regression analysis was used to determine the independent effects of CagA and VacA seropositivities on the development of DU.


RESULTS
Sixty-three patients with DU and 62 patients with NUD were eligible for the final analysis. Seropositivity for anti-CagA was detected in 51 of 62 (82%), and in 55 of 63 (87%) patients with NUD and DU, respectively (P = no significance), and seropositivity for anti-VacA was found in 25 of 62 (40% ) and in 16 of 63 (25%) patients, with NUD and DU, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that none of these virulence factors is associated with the development of DU in the studied Turkish patients with dyspepsia.
Erzin
Yusuf
Y
Department of Gastroenterlogy, Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, 34303 Kocamustafapasa-Istanbul, Turkey.
Altun
Sibel
S
Dobrucali
Ahmet
A
Aslan
Mustafa
M
Erdamar
Sibel
S
Dirican
Ahmet
A
Tuncer
Murat
M
Kocazeybek
Bekir
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D004381:Duodenal Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D014774:Virulence
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C074689:VacA protein, Helicobacter pylori; C080866:cagA protein, Helicobacter pylori