Gastric parietal cell antibodies, Helicobacter pylori infection, and chronic atrophic gastritis: evidence from a large population-based study in Germany.

BACKGROUND Striking similarities between autoimmune gastritis and Helicobacter Pylori (H. pylori)-associated gastritis have suggested a potential link between these two pathologic conditions in the progression of chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG); however, evidence has remained conflicting. METHODS Serum pepsinogen I and II, and antibodies against H. pylori in general, the cytotoxin-associated gene A protein (CagA) and parietal cells were measured by ELISA in 9,684 subjects aged 50 to 74 years. Antigastric parietal cell antibody (APCA) prevalence was examined in the overall population and according to sex, age, and H. pylori serostatus. The association between APCA prevalence and CAG was assessed by logistic regression, overall and according to H. pylori status, controlling for potential confounding factors. RESULTS Overall APCA prevalence was 19.5%. APCA prevalence was strongly associated with CAG, and the association was increasing with increasing severity of CAG. Furthermore, the association between APCA and CAG was even stronger among H. pylori-negative subjects [odds ratio (OR) = 11.3; 95% confidence interval (CI): 7.5-17.1)] than among H. pylori-positive subjects (OR = 2.6; 95% CI: 2.1-3.3). CONCLUSIONS APCA may play a role on the development of gastric atrophy, irrespective of H. pylori infection. IMPACT Assessment of APCA might be a useful complement to established markers (such as pepsinogens and H. pylori antibodies) in screening for CAG.