[Campylobacter pylori. Determination of gastric colonization and its clinical relevance]

While evidence suggesting a statistical association between Campylobacter pylori and chronic active antral gastritis is convincing, the role which the organism may play in the pathogenesis of this condition and in the case of peptic ulcer remains to be elucidated. The development of safe, non-invasive diagnostic tests suitable for population studies greatly facilitates this investigative process. This article presents a brief review of currently available methods of diagnosing C pylori colonization in the stomach and discusses their possible application in the field of clinical gastroenterology.