title: Comparison of enzyme immunoassays detecting Helicobacter pylori specific IgG in serum and saliva with endoscopic and biopsy findings in patients with dyspepsia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the performance of two indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) detecting Helicobacter pylori (HP)-specific IgG antibodies in serum and saliva with endoscopic observations and histologic findings of biopsies from dyspeptic patients, in an area of high HP prevalence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sera, saliva and antral biopsies were obtained from 55 dyspeptic patients. IgG antibodies against HP were assayed in sera and saliva utilizing two indirect ELISAs. Biopsies were processed according to standard procedures in order to detect histological changes and the presence or absence of Helicobacter pylori. Laboratory data thus obtained were compared and statistically analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-two (76.36%) biopsies were positive for HP. The organisms were detected in 4 of 16 (25%) cases with normal endoscopic findings, in all 16 cases of gastritis and in 22 of the 23 (95.6%) cases of duodenal ulcers (DU). Serum and saliva HP-specific IgG antibodies were detected in 4 normal cases with positive biopsies, in 12 and 14 cases of gastritis, respectively, and in all 22 (100%) biopsy positive cases of DU. The sensitivities of the serum and saliva tests were 90.5% and 95%, respectively, while the specificities were 84.5% and 70%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Due to their high sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing HP-associated DU and gastritis, serum and saliva antibody testing seems to offer a valuable alternative to invasive procedures especially in areas of high HP prevalence such as ours; saliva antibody testing is simple and practical especially in children and in difficult patients who resent venipuncture.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology and Parasitology, King Khalid University, College of Medicine, Abha, P.O. Box 641, Pin - 61421, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. vashish2010@gmail.com
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El-Mekki
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Alknawy
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Al-Ammari
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moosa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Quli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahmed
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood*; D001706:Biopsy; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques / Q000379:methods; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D011706:Pyloric Antrum / Q000473:pathology; D012463:Saliva / Q000276:immunology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D044967:Serum / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G