Association between Helicobacter pylori infection and serum pepsinogen concentrations in gastroduodenal disease.

AIM: To investigate the association between Helicobacter pylori infection and serum pepsinogen (PG) 1 and 2 concentrations in various gastroduodenal diseases. METHODS: Serum PG1 and 2 concentrations and antibodies to H pylori were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); gastric mucosal pH was assessed and urease activity in biopsy tissue was determined. A comparison of the ELISA and urease test results permitted division of the cases into positive, false positive, false negative and negative categories for control, gastritis, and ulcer groups. RESULTS: The gastric mucosal pH and serum PG2 in cases positive for H pylori were significantly increased in ulcer and gastritis cases compared with H pylori negative cases. Similar tendencies were observed for the false positive and false negative categories. CONCLUSIONS: A positive ELISA reaction for antibodies and an increased serum PG2 concentration are reliable indicators of H pylori infection.