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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, May 1998, p. 1193-1196, Vol. 36, No. 5
Department of Gastroenterology,
Received 25 August 1997/Returned for modification 19 December
1997/Accepted 3 February 1998
Helicobacter pylori serology and in particular
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for the measurement of
immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody titers form an accurate means of
diagnosing H. pylori infection in patients before
treatment. H. pylori serology is of limited value in
monitoring treatment because of the slow decline in antibody titers. In
the present study we aimed to measure the most suitable moment after
antibiotic treatment at which serology should be used to monitor
treatment. Sixty-four patients who had nonulcer dyspepsia and H. pylori infection and who underwent upper gastrointestinal
endoscopy because of persistent dyspeptic symptoms were included in the
study. H. pylori cure was confirmed by histology and
culture 5 weeks after the completion of the antibiotic treatment. Serological examination was performed before therapy and at 5 weeks, 10 weeks, and 1 year after the completion of antibiotic treatment.
Diagnostic performance was assessed by receiver-operating characteristic analysis. The areas under the receiver-operating characteristic curves of the H. pylori antibody titers at 5 weeks, 10 weeks, and 1 year after the completion of treatment were 0.53 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.36 to 0.69), 0.60 (95% CI, 0.43 to
0.76), and 0.78 (95% CI, 0.63 to 0.93), respectively. The areas under
the receiver-operating characteristic curves of the changes in H. pylori IgG antibody titers at 5 weeks, 10 weeks, and 1 year after
the completion of treatment in comparison with the pretreatment titers
were 0.85 (95% CI, 0.72 to 0.97), 0.96 (95% CI, 0.89 to 1.0), and 1.0 (95% CI, not estimable), respectively. We conclude that serology forms
a useful means of monitoring treatment in patients with nonulcer
dyspepsia and H. pylori infection as early as 10 weeks and
maybe even sooner after the completion of treatment for the infection.
0095-1137/98/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1998, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.
Short-Term Follow-Up by Serology of Patients Given
Antibiotic Treatment for Helicobacter pylori
Infection
*
Corresponding author. Mailing address: MIES (152), P.O.
Box 9101, NL 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Phone: 31-243614295. Fax: 31-243613505. E-mail: R.Laheij{at}mie.kun.nl.
Journal of Clinical Microbiology, May 1998, p. 1193-1196, Vol. 36, No. 5
0095-1137/98/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1998, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.
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