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New noninvasive tests forHelicobacter pylori gastritis

Comparison with tissue-based gold standard

  • Diagnostic and Interventional Techniques
  • Published:
Digestive Diseases and Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The current gold standard for diagnosingH. pylori gastritis requires antral biopsy for urease test (eg, CLOtest) and/or histology. We compared this gold standard to a new low-dose capsule-based 1 μCi[14C]urea breath test (UBT) and a rapid serum test for anti-H. pylori antibodies (FlexSure HP) in 50 consecutive patients undergoing upper endoscopy. Antral biopsies within 3 cm of the pylorus were used for CLOtest and were stained with H&E and thiazine. Slides were reviewed by a single, blinded pathologist (Review) and compared to the pathology department report (Report). A true positive was defined as a positive CLOtest or Review. The prevalence ofH. pylori infection by each test was: CLOtest 32%. Review 36%, gold standard 42%, UBT 38%, FlexSure HP 44%, Report 44%. UBT had sensitivity=90%, specificity=96%, positive predictive value=95%, and negative predictive value=93% and accurately determinedH. pylori status in a subgroup of 10 patients who had completed treatment. The one false positive breath test occurred in a patient with 2+chronic inflammation on biopsy and a positive antibody test. There were two false negative breath tests. Each had both negative CLOtests and negative antibody tests. FlexSure HP had sensitivity=74%, specificity=89%, positive predictive value=88%, and negative predictive value=77% in patients not previously treated, but had a high false-positive rate in the 10 patients after treatment. Pathology department Report and blinded pathologist Review had only 84% agreement, kappa=0.67. Both CLOtest and UBT agreed better with Review (86%, 87%, kappa=0.68, 0.73, respectively) than Report (78%, 77%, kappa=0.53, 0.53, respectively) suggesting that Review is more accurate than Report. When biopsy is done, we recommend that a CLOtest be performed followed by histological examination if the CLOtest is negative to ensure adequate sensitivity. However, interpretation of histological slides has significant interobserver variability even in experienced hand and may be inaccurate at times. FlexSure HP has good PPV but inadequate sensitivity to rule out active infection and is not useful in patients after treatment. UBT is an excellent noninvasive test that should be considered in cases where EGD is otherwise not indicated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gastroenterology Division, Pathology Department, and Nuclear Medicine Division, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, 3400 Spruce Street, 8 Gates Building, 19104, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

    Douglas O. Faigel MD, Marcia Childs RN, Emma E. Furth MD, Abass Alavi MD &  David C. Metz MD

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  1. Douglas O. Faigel MD
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  2. Marcia Childs RN
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  3. Emma E. Furth MD
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  4. Abass Alavi MD
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  5. David C. Metz MD
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Statistical support provided by the General Clinical Research Center of the University of Pennsylvania.

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Faigel, D.O., Childs, M., Furth, E.E. et al. New noninvasive tests forHelicobacter pylori gastritis. Digest Dis Sci 41, 740–748 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02213130

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02213130

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