Serum pepsinogen I and II concentrations and IgG antibody to Helicobacter pyloni in dyspeptic patients

Aims-To investigate the association between histologically confirmed gastritis, carriage of Helicobacter pyloni and pepsinogen (PG) I and PG II concentrations. Methods-Prospective study of 81 dyspeptic patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was made. The extent of gastric mucosal inflammation and the presence of H pyloni was determined, and serology to evaluate PG I and II concentrations and IgG titres to Hpyloni was carried out. Results-The presence of H pyloni was strongly correlated with high IgG antibody titres to H pylori and gastritis. Patients who were H pyloni positive had significantly higher PG I and PG II concentrations and a significantly lower PG I:PG II ratio than patients who were negative for H pylori. In 13 patients with duodenal ulcer and Hpylori positive gastritis serum PG I concentrations were significantly higher than in Hpylori positive patients without duodenal ulcer. Significant correlations were found between the age of patients and serum PG II, the PG I:PG II ratio, IgG antibodies to H pyloni, the severity of body gastritis and Hpylori infection, and between the degree of gastritis in the body of the stomach and the PG II concentration. Conclusions-Serum PG I and II concentrations, together with a fall in the PG I:PG II ratio, could be used as predictors ofHpylori infection as well as serum IgG antibody response to Hpyloni.