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Effect of antimicrobial therapy on the specific serological response toHelicobacter pylori infection

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Abstract

The systemic immune response toHelicobacter pylori was studied in 247 infected adult patients before antimicrobial therapy and at different intervals following therapy. Endoscopy with simultaneous collection of biopsies was performed in all patients immediately before treatment, 4 to 6 weeks after the end of therapy and 6 to 12 months later. A14C-urea breath test was performed 3 to 6 months after the end of treatment. Biopsy specimens were cultured and examined histologically using Giemsa stain. Sera were tested forHelicobacter pylori IgG antibodies with a commercial enzyme immunoassay using species-specific antigens. Overall,Helicobacter pylori was eradicated in 120 patients while the other 127 remained infected with the organism. The follow-up period ranged from 4 weeks to 33 months (mean 10.2 months). Pretreatment IgG levels did not differ significantly between the two groups of patients. Six weeks after the end of treatment a slight but definite decrease in the IgG antibody levels was seen irrespective of treatment success. In the 127 patients who remainedHelicobacter pylori-positive, the level of IgG antibodies remained stable or increased with time. A continuous fall in antibody levels was observed following bacterial eradication in the other 120 patients, but the difference in antibody levels between treatment responders and nonresponders became significant only more than six months after the end of treatment (p=0.001). Serological testing may be useful for monitoring the outcome of long-term treatment ofHelicobacter pylori infection and obviate the need for endoscopy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Microbiology, Brugmann University Hospital, 4 Place A. Van Gehuchten, 1020, Brussels, Belgium

    Y. Glupczynski

  2. Department of Pathology, Brugmann University Hospital, 4 Place A. Van Gehuchten, 1020, Brussels, Belgium

    C. DePrez

  3. Gastroenterology Unit, Nouvelle Clinique de la Basilique, 1080, Brussels, Belgium

    A. Burette

  4. St. Pieters University Hospital and WHO Collaborating Center for Enteric Campylobacter, 1000, Brussels, Belgium

    H. Goossens & J. P. Butzler

Authors
  1. Y. Glupczynski
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  2. A. Burette
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  3. H. Goossens
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  4. C. DePrez
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  5. J. P. Butzler
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Glupczynski, Y., Burette, A., Goossens, H. et al. Effect of antimicrobial therapy on the specific serological response toHelicobacter pylori infection. Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 11, 583–588 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01961663

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