Brief Reports
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2005. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Oct 7, 2005; 11(37): 5878-5881
Published online Oct 7, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i37.5878
Comparison of a monoclonal antigen stool test (Hp StAR) with the 13C-urea breath test (UBT) in monitoring Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy
Francesco Perri, Michele Quitadamo, Rosalba Ricciardi, Ada Piepoli, Rosa Cotugno, Annamaria Gentile, Alberto Pilotto, Angelo Andriulli
Francesco Perri, Michele Quitadamo, Rosalba Ricciardi, Ada Piepoli, Rosa Cotugno, Annamaria Gentile, Angelo Andriulli, Department of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology Unit, “Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza” Hospital, IRCCS, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
Alberto Pilotto, Department of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics Unit, “Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza” Hospital, IRCCS, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Professor Francesco Perri, “Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza” Hospital, IRCCS, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy. f.perri@operapadrepio.it
Telephone: +39-882-410568 Fax: +39-882-411879
Received: November 21, 2004
Revised: December 15, 2004
Accepted: December 20, 2004
Published online: October 7, 2005
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the agreement between a mAb-based stool test (HP StAR) and the urea breath test (UBT) in monitoring (H pylori) infection after eradication therapy.

METHODS: Patients with discordant results on UBT and Hp StAR underwent endoscopy with biopsies for rapid urease test, culture, and histology to confirm H pylori status.

RESULTS: Among 250 patients (50±14 years), 240 (96.0%) had concordant UBT and Hp StAR tests with a significant correlation between DOB and A values (R = 0.87; P<0.0001). The remaining 10 (4.0%) patients had discordant tests (positive Hp StAR and negative UBT) with the Hp StAR inaccurate in five cases (false positive) and UBT inaccurate in the other five cases (false negative). The “maximal expected” sensitivity, specificity, +PV, -PV, +LR, and -LR were 91%, 100%, 100%, 97.4%, , and 8.2 respectively, for the UBT, and 100%, 97.4%, 91%, 100%, 38.8, and 0, respectively, for the Hp StAR. Overall accuracy for both tests was 98%.

CONCLUSION: Both the UBT and the Hp StAR are equally accurate in monitoring H pylori infection. Nowadays, the choice of the “best” non-invasive H pylori test in the post-treatment setting should be done not only in terms of diagnostic accuracy but also in view of cost and local facilities.

Keywords: Diagnosis, Helicobacter pylori, Stool antigen test, Urea breath test