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Serological detection of Helicobacter pylori antibodies in children and their parents
L M Best1, S J Veldhuyzen van Zanten, P M Sherman
1Department of Microbiology, Victoria General Hospital, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Insights
Serological tests show high accuracy in diagnosing Helicobacter pylori infections in children. Flow microsphere immunofluorescent assay (FMIA) and ELISA effectively detect H. pylori-specific antibodies, aiding in pediatric diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Immunology
- Diagnostic Microbiology
Background:
- Helicobacter pylori infection is a significant cause of pediatric gastrointestinal disease.
- Accurate and non-invasive diagnostic methods are crucial for timely treatment in children.
- Serological markers, such as specific antibodies, offer a potential alternative to invasive procedures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the diagnostic performance of serological assays for Helicobacter pylori infection in children.
- To compare the efficacy of flow microsphere immunofluorescent assay (FMIA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in detecting H. pylori-specific antibodies.
- To assess the utility of these assays in a pediatric cohort and their parents.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of antibody response in 56 children (ages 5-18) and 39 nonendoscoped parents.
- Detection of H. pylori-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgA antibodies using FMIA.
- Detection of IgG antibodies using Pyloristat ELISA.
- Comparison of serological results with culture and histological examination of biopsy specimens.
Main Results:
- FMIA for IgG demonstrated 100% sensitivity and 97% specificity.
- Pyloristat ELISA for IgG showed 96% sensitivity and 94% specificity.
- FMIA for IgA had 50% sensitivity and 100% specificity, with high positive predictive value (100%).
- Both assays identified 19 parents as IgG positive; FMIA identified 17 of 19 parents as IgA positive.
Conclusions:
- Serological tests, particularly FMIA for IgG, are highly accurate for diagnosing H. pylori infection in children.
- FMIA and ELISA are valuable tools for detecting H. pylori-specific antibodies, supporting non-invasive diagnosis.
- Further investigation into IgA antibody detection may refine diagnostic capabilities.
Abstract:
The antibody response to Helicobacter pylori was examined in 56 children (ages 5 to 18) to determine whether serological tests can be used for diagnosis. Twenty-four children (43%) were H. pylori positive and 32 children (57%) were H. pylori negative by culture and histological examination of endoscopic biopsy specimens. The immune response was also examined in 39 nonendoscoped parents of the children. H. pylori-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgA antibodies were detected by the flow microsphere immunofluorescent assay (FMIA). IgG was also detected by using the Pyloristat enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for the FMIA for IgG were 100, 97, 96, and 100%, respectively. The respective values for the Pyloristat ELISA for IgG were 96, 94, 92, and 97%. The respective values for the FMIA for IgA were 50, 100, 100, and 73%. Both assays identified the same 19 parents as IgG positive, while FMIA identified 17 of the 19 parents as IgA positive.