high levels of iga antibodies to helicobacter pylori among omani women during pregnancy and after delivery

background: helicobacter pylori (h. pylori), is a common infection in pregnant women accompanied by variations in the levels of the igm, iga and igg antibody isotypes. the variations of anti-h. pylori antibodies during and after pregnancy, and the extent of protection they provide to the mother and the fetus are not completely understood. objectives: to investigate the changes of the anti-h. pylori igm, iga and igg levels in healthy omani pregnant women during pregnancy and 3 months after delivery. methods: serum samples obtained from 70 omani healthy pregnant women, with no history of autoimmune diseases, were tested for anti-h. pylori igm, iga and igg in the first trimester of pregnancy and 3 months after delivery. in parallel and as a control group, sera obtained from a group of 70 healthy non-pregnant omani women were tested. the levels of anti-h. pylori igm, iga and igg were measured using standard enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (elisas). results: anti-h. pylori iga levels were found to be significantly higher during pregnancy (p=0.046) and after delivery (p=0.02) when compared to the control group. moreover, a significant increase in the levels of anti-h. pylori igm, iga and igg was detected after delivery (p=0.002) when compared to the levels during pregnancy. conclusion: pregnancy is associated with an increase in the levels of anti-h. pylori iga antibodies. in addition, anti-h. pylori igm, igg and iga antibody levels increase after delivery.