H. Pylori Test (h + pylori_test)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Should Non-Invasive Helicobacter pylori Testing Replace Endoscopy in Investigation of Dyspepsia?

HELICOBACTER, Issue S1 2000
Kenneth McColl
Our knowledge of Helicobacter pylori infection is now changing the way in which we investigate patients presenting with dyspepsia, with noninvasive H. pylori testing replacing endoscopy. Non-invasive H. pylori testing has been shown to be useful in predicting the underlying diagnosis in patients presenting with dyspepsia. Several studies have shown that 20,50% of dyspeptic patients with a positive H. pylori test will have evidence of underlying ulcer disease or duodenitis. In contrast, less than 5% of dyspeptic patients with a negative H. pylori test will have evidence of ulcer disease and in these subjects, the likeliest diagnosis is gastroesophageal reflux disease. This has led to many groups recommending that noninvasive H. pylori testing should be used in place of endoscopy, with all those testing positive being given anti- H. pylori therapy and those testing negative being treated symptomatically. One concern about nonendoscopic management of dyspeptic patients is the possibility of missing underlying malignancy but studies have shown that in western countries this is rare in patients less than 55 years of age presenting with dyspepsia in the absence of sinister symptoms. There is increasing evidence supporting eradication of H. pylori infection in dyspeptic patients without ulcer disease. Meta-analysis of four prospective randomized trials indicates that such treatment is superior to placebo in about 10% of subjects. H. pylori -positive dyspeptic patients are also recognized to have an increased risk of developing ulcer disease in the future which will be removed by treating the infection. Another justification for eradicating the infection in the absence of ulcer disease is the fact that H. pylori infection is now proven to be a risk factor for gastric cancer. Prospective randomized studies comparing endoscopy with noninvasive H. pylori testing in the management of dyspeptic patients indicate that managing dyspepsia by noninvasive H. pylori testing is at least as effective as endoscopic-based management in producing symptomatic resolution and saves a substantial number of endoscopic procedures. There is therefore now substantial evidence indicating that noninvasive H. pylori testing should be used in place of endoscopy to determine the management of younger dyspeptic patients without sinister symptoms and who are not taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. [source]


Proton Pump Inhibitors and Helicobacter pylori Gastritis: Friends or Foes?

BASIC AND CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY, Issue 3 2006
Ernst J. Kuipers
In H. pylori -positive patients, profound acid suppressive therapy induces a corpus-predominant pangastritis, which is associated with accelerated corpus gland loss and development of atrophic gastritis. Both corpus-predominant and atrophic gastritis have been associated with an increased risk of development of gastric cancer. H. pylori eradication leads to resolution of gastritis and may induce partial regression of pre-existent gland loss. H. pylori eradication does not aggravate GERD nor does it impair the efficacy of proton pump inhibitor maintenance therapy for this condition. This is the background of the advise within the European guidelines for the management of H. pylori infection to offer an H. pylori test and treat policy to patients who require proton pump inhibitor maintenance therapy for GERD. As such a policy fully reverses H. pylori pangastritis even in patients who have been treated for years with proton pump inhibitors, there is no need to eradicate H. pylori before the start of proton pump inhibitors. In fact, the somewhat slower initial response of H. pylori -negative GERD patients to proton pump inhibitor therapy and the fact that many GERD patients will only require short-term therapy suggests to first start the proton pump inhibitor, and only test and treat when maintenance therapy needs to be prescribed. Such considerations prevent the persistent presence of active corpus-predominant gastritis in proton pump inhibitor-treated reflux patients without impairing the clinical efficacy of treatment [source]


Validation of Diagnostic Tests for Helicobacter pylori with Regard to Grade of Atrophic Gastritis and/or Intestinal Metaplasia

HELICOBACTER, Issue 6 2009
Cheol Min Shin
Abstract Background and Aims:, To evaluate the validity of the biopsy-based tests (histology, culture, and urease test) and serology in detecting current Helicobacter pylori infection against a background of atrophic gastritis (AG) or intestinal metaplasia (IM). Methods:,Helicobacter pylori infection was diagnosed in 651 subjects, using the predefined gold standard for H. pylori tests. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of culture, CLOtest, histology (Giemsa stain), and serology were calculated with regard to the histological grade of AG and IM. The level of serum pepsinogen (PG) I and II was also measured as a marker for the presence of AG. Results:, In the study population (n = 651), sensitivity and specificity, respectively, were as follows: culture, 56.2 and 100%; histology, 93.0 and 94.0%; CLOtest, 80.4 and 96.7%; serology, 96.0 and 67.5%. If the analysis is limited to those without AG or IM (n = 158) or to those younger than 40 years (n = 69), all tests, except for culture, had a sensitivity and specificity >90%. The sensitivity of CLOtest and the specificity of serology markedly decreased with progression of AG and IM, and serology was less specific in the presence of AG, as determined by a PG I/II ratio ,4.1 (specificity, 83.7% vs 40.7% in PG I/II >4.1 and ,4.1, respectively). Conclusions:, Any one of biopsy-based tests or serology was found to be excellent for identifying current H. pylori infection among individuals without AG or IM and/or younger patients (<40 years). However, a combination of at least two tests is necessary in the clinical setting of AG or IM. [source]


Long-term Follow up of Helicobacter pylori IgG Serology After Eradication and Reinfection Rate of H. pylori in South Korea

HELICOBACTER, Issue 4 2008
Jung Hoon Lee
Abstract Background: Serology is widely used for epidemiologic research of Helicobacter pylori. However, there is limited information on the long-term follow up of H. pylori titers after eradication. In addition, it is presumed that the reinfection rate decreases as the H. pylori infection rate decreases. The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term follow up of H. pylori IgG, and to evaluate the reinfection rate of H. pylori in Korea. Methods: Among 247 patients, who were enrolled during 2003,07, 185 patients with invasive H. pylori test positive received proton pump inhibitor-based triple therapy, and follow-up H. pylori testing, including histology, CLOtest, culture, and serology, were evaluated 2, 10, and 18 months after H. pylori eradication. Results: The initial H. pylori IgG optical density (OD450nm), 2.06, gradually decreased to 0.63 (67% reduction) at 18 months after H. pylori eradication. The seroreversion rate was 5, 10, and 45% at 2, 10, and 18 months after H. pylori eradication, respectively. The recrudescence of H. pylori was 3.49%, and the annual reinfection rate was 2.94% per year. H. pylori IgG titers abruptly increased in cases with recrudescence and reinfection, and correlated with the results of the invasive H. pylori tests. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that H. pylori IgG serology could be used for the determination of reinfection of H. pylori, but not for the diagnosis of H. pylori eradication. The reinfection rate of H. pylori, in Korea, was found to be very low, 2.94% per year. [source]