Evaluation of three commercial serological tests with different methodologies to assess Helicobacter pylori infection.

The sera of 142 Helicobacter pylori-positive and 32 H. pylori-negative patients were assessed by a desktop test (QuickVue), an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (HM-CAP), and a solid-phase, two-step chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay (Immulite). These tests yielded sensitivities of 97, 97, and 91% and specificities of 97, 94, and 100%, respectively.

Influence of metronidazole resistance on efficacy of quadruple therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication.

Background: Metronidazole-containing eradication therapies are less effective for metronidazole resistant Helicobacter pylori. Although early data suggested improvement of the efficacy of bismuth triple therapy after the addition of acid suppressives, these findings were based on studies with small numbers of patients, incomplete post-eradication follow up, or omission of pretreatment susceptibility testing.

Aims: To study the efficacy of quadruple therapy in the Amsterdam area, where the efficacy of bismuth triple therapy has been proved to be affected by metronidazole resistance.

The interrelationship between cytotoxin-associated gene A, vacuolating cytotoxin, and Helicobacter pylori-related diseases.

The interrelationship between cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA), vacuolating cytotoxin (VacA), and Helicobacter pylori-related diseases was investigated in 155 H. pylori-infected patients. Four (7%) of 60 subjects had mixed cagA+ and cagA- H.