Immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M anti-Helicobacter pylori antibodies—diagnostic and prognostic value in gastritis

Abstract

The morphological parameters against which the IgG and IgM anti-H. pylori levels were measured were the density of various inflammatory cells like neutrophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes, and plasma cells. The IgG and IgM antibody titres were also compared with the grade of atrophy, the presence or absence of intestinal metaplasia, and glandular shortening. Lastly and most importantly, the titres were also compared with the presence and density of H. pylori. RESULTSThirty patients were evaluated. The minimum IgG titre recorded was 0.111 and the maximum titre was 2.118 IU/L. The mean IgG titre was 0.846 IU/L and the median titre was 0.655 IU/L. The minimal IgM titre recorded was 0.424 IU/L and the maximum titre was 2.437 IU/L. The mean titre was 1.046 IU/L and the median titre was 0.837 IU/L.No correlation between the various inflammatory parameters and the IgG and IgM antibody titres and no correlation between the antibody titres and the presence and grade of atrophy, gland shortening, and intestinal metaplasia was observed. In conclusion, we noted that there was no correlation between the antibody titres and the presence and density of H. pylori in the antral biopsies. Table 1 shows the P value between the antibody titres and the various parameters. DISCUSSIONThis small pilot study did not find any correlation between the IgG and IgM titres and the severity of gastritis as assessed by histopathology. A few studies have found that there is a significant correlation between the severity of gastritis and the antibody titres. 3 Yamamoto et al found that serum anti-H. pylori IgG antibody titres were correlated significantly with the severity of inflammation in both the antrum and body. Significant associations were found between serum anti-H. pylori IgG and IgA antibody titres and the development of atrophic gastritis. They did not find a correlation with anti-H. pylori IgM titres. They concluded that their results suggest that measurement of serum anti-H. pylori antibody titres is