Comparison of Serum IgG Antibody Test with Gastric Biopsy for the Detection of Helicobacter Pylori Infection among Egyptian Children.
BACKGROUND
In developing countries, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is mainly acquired during childhood and may be a predisposing factor for peptic ulcer or gastric cancer later in life. Noninvasive diagnostic tools are particularly useful in children for screening tests and epidemiological studies. Data on serologic testing of children are lacking. Accurate noninvasive tests for diagnosing Helicobacter pylori infection in children are strongly required.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of a serological test (serum IgG antibody for H. pylori) in Egyptian children with recurrent abdominal pain necessitating endoscopy.


METHODS
One hundred children, referred to the endoscopy unit at Mansoura University. Upper endoscopy was done for each with rapid urease test (RUT) and histological examination as the gold standard test for detection of H. pylori infection. Serum samples were collected for detecting IgG for H. pylori infection.


RESULTS
The mean age of the subjects included in the study was 7.23 ± 1.94 year. Serological test (IgG to H. pylori) was positive in 60% of all cases. A highly significant association between the standard test and the serological test at a cutoff > 10 U/ml at p = 0.001 were detected for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection. The sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, and negative likelihood ratio for the IgG antibody a cutoff > 10 U/ml, were 96.5%, 93%, 13.83, 0.038 respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum IgG antibody to H. pylori infection has a high diagnostic value and can be considered as a suitable and reliable noninvasive test for detection of H. pylori infection.
Department of Child Health, Medical Research Division, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.
Mones M Abu
MM
Shady
Health Radiation Research Department, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology, Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, Egypt.
Hanan A
HA
Fathy
Department of Child Health, Medical Research Division, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.
Alaa
A
Ali
Department of Child Health, Medical Research Division, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.
Essam M
EM
Galal
Department of Child Health, Medical Research Division, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.
Gihan A
GA
Fathy
Department of Medical Physiology, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt.
Hiba
H
Sibaii
Egypt; Helicobacter pylori; children; serologic test