immunoblot assay in determination of serum antibody profile of helicobacter pylori infection

a high prevalence of antibody to cag a has been observed in h. pylori seropositive patients (hp + ) living in developed countries. this is felt to be correlated with the development of serious sequelae of this infection.  we examined the sero-prevalence of antibody to cag a and other specific h. pylori antigens in symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals living in kashan. sera from 37 patients whose hp status was determined by culture, histology, rut, and elisa were enrolled in this study.  the helico – blot 2.1 western blot system was used for the detection of antibodies to specific antigens of h.pylori in sera obtained from both positive and negative hp. out of 85 patients, 47 (55.3%) were hp + and 38 (44.7%) hp - .  among the hp + group, 37 were tested with immunoblot system.  patients and their respective clinical disease were composed of duedenitis 19, non-ulcer dyspepsia 4 , dyspepsia 4 , gastritis 24 , cancer and metaplasia 11 and 2 normal biopsies. in that order the corresponding antibodies to cag a was 73%,75%,75%,83%,81.8% and 50%. the results of this study suggest that cag a antibody is more frequent in the acute status; however, this factor is diagnostically insufficient in some disease processes.  in addition,cag a + phenotype can not be used as a single marker for high risk patients.