Detection and evaluation of salivary antibodies to Helicobacter pylori in dyspeptic patients

Helicobacter pylori infection is one of the most prevalent infections in humans. The high prevalence and the association with peptic ulceration and gastric cancer require simple and non-invasive methods for the diagnosis of the infection. Detection of salivary anti-H. pylori IgG antibodies has advantages compared with those on serum. In this study, salivary immunoglobulin G response to H. pylori was evaluated in 100 consecutive dyspeptic patients by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), in comparison with culture and histopathologic examination of gastric biopsy specimens obtained at endoscopic procedures and assessed the accuracy of salivary diagnosis of the infection. The overall sensitivity and specificity of the test were 87 and 73%, respectively. These results suggest that saliva testing for H. pylori antibodies could be used reliably for screening dyspeptic patients in general practice, especially in children in whom venesection is more difficult.