Role of Anti-Parietal Cell Antibody in Helicobacter pylori -associated Atrophic Gastritis: Evaluation in a Country of High Prevalence of Atrophic Gastritis

Abstract

Background: Helicobacter pylori plays an important part in the progression of atrophic gastritis; however, markers for predicting the progression of atrophic gastritis remain unidentified. We investigated the relation between the degree of atrophic gastritis and the amount of anti-parietal cell antibodies (APCAs) present. Methods: In 219 Japanese patients, APCA was investigated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and by Western blotting. The grade of corpus atrophy was estimated by histology and serum pepsinogen levels. Serum levels of pepsinogen were evaluated by radio-immunoassay. Results: Helicobacter pylori infection did not affect the APCA levels determined by ELISA. Long-term administration of proton-pump inhibitors and H. pylori eradication did not influence the levels of APCAs. However, in H. pylori -positive patients, the levels of APCA determined by ELISA were statistically higher in patients with severe atrophy than in those with mild atrophy as determined histologically (0.67 ± 0.48 versus 0.45 ± 0.40; A492, mean ± s , P = 0.01) and serologically by pepsinogen levels (0.66 ± 0.51 versus 0.44 ± 0.40, P = 0.002). The levels of pepsinogen I/II ratio were correlated with APCA levels only in the H. pylori -positive group. Western blotting showed that major antigen was identical with the β -subunit of H + ,K + -ATPase. Conclusion: APCA plays an important part in the progression of corpus atrophy after H. pylori infection.

• Anti-PARIETAL Cell Antibody
• Atrophic Gastritis
• Helicobacter
• Pylori