Association between Helicobacter pylori infection and serum pepsinogen concentrations in gastroduodenal disease.

AIM To investigate the association between Helicobacter pylori infection and serum pepsinogen (PG) 1 and 2 concentrations in various gastroduodenal diseases. METHODS Serum PG1 and 2 concentrations and antibodies to H pylori were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); gastric mucosal pH was assessed and urease activity in biopsy tissue was determined. A comparison of the ELISA and urease test results permitted division of the cases into positive, false positive, false negative and negative categories for control, gastritis, and ulcer groups. RESULTS The gastric mucosal pH and serum PG2 in cases positive for H pylori were significantly increased in ulcer and gastritis cases compared with H pylori negative cases. Similar tendencies were observed for the false positive and false negative categories. CONCLUSIONS A positive ELISA reaction for antibodies and an increased serum PG2 concentration are reliable indicators of H pylori infection.