The Role of Serology in the Diagnosis of Campylobacter pylori Infection

Abstract

Circulating antibodies to Campylobacter pylori in patients with campy lobac-ter-associated gastritis are sufficiently specific to allow serodiagnosis of this condition. This is possible by various techniques, the most convenient being enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Applications of serodiagnosis are in two areas - in clinical practice, where proper evaluation is still required, and in epidemiology. Here serodiagnosis shows the prevalence of C. pylori in the general population and in specific population groups. A study of C. pylori and dyspeptic symptoms in a group of healthy blood donors showed a significant association between C. pylori and history of peptic ulceration. However in most donors the gastritis was clinically silent.

Key Words:

• Campylobacter pylori
• chronic gastritis
• epidemiology
• serodiagnosis