Detection of serum antibodies against Helicobacter pylori using a chromatographic immunoassay in outpatients.

Objectives: The presence of the antibodies against Helicobacter pylori was tested in 163 subjects (children and adults) in the outpatient department, in the years 2005 and 2006.

Methods: Of the 163 investigated patients 108 (66.3%) were females and 55 (33.7%) were males. The antibodies against Helicobacter pylori were determined by "One Step Helicobacter pylori Test Device (Serum/Plasma)" (ACON Laboratories, Inc.), a rapid, high quality chromatographic immunoassay using human antibodies against IgG immobilized and particles covered with Helicobacter pylori antigen, in contact with the serum of the tested subjects.

Results: Of the 163 investigated subjects, 60 (36.8%) presented a positive test suggesting the passage through the infection with Helicobacter pylori. The positive tests were found in adults, 1 case was a boy of 12 years and 5 cases were teenagers between 16 and 18 years. The incidence of the antibodies increased with age. Only 40% of the patients with positive test had a clinical diagnosis of gastritis or gastro-duodenal ulcer, the remaining patients presenting symptoms of chronic hepatitis, cholecystitis or urticaria.

Conclusions: Antibody assay is considered by many authors as a simple, noninvasive, rapid method, applicable in the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection. Other authors asserted that the performance of these assays is less satisfactory and the results should be confirmed by other tests, such as ureea breath test. High levels of antibodies against Helicobacter spp. were encountered in liver and biliary chronic diseases, suggesting a possible role of these bacteria in the development of hepatitis or cholecystitis.