Rapid Communication
Copyright ©2005 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Nov 21, 2005; 11(43): 6871-6874
Published online Nov 21, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i43.6871
Association of Helicobacter pylori IgA antibodies with the risk of peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer
Timo U Kosunen, Kari Seppälä, Seppo Sarna, Arpo Aromaa, Paul Knekt, Jarmo Virtamo, Anniina Salomaa-Räsänen, Hilpi Rautelin
Timo U Kosunen, Anniina Salomaa-Räsänen, Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland
Kari Seppälä, Gastroenterological Research Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Helsinki, FIN-00029 Helsinki, Finland
Seppo Sarna, Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland
Arpo Aromaa, Paul Knekt, Jarmo Virtamo, National Public Health Institute, FIN-00300 Helsinki, Finland
Hilpi Rautelin, Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland, and HUSLAB, Helsinki University Central Hospital Laboratory, FIN-00029 Helsinki, Finland
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the University of Helsinki, the Helsinki University Central Hospital and the Finnish Cancer Organisations, Helsinki, Finland
Correspondence to: Dr.Timo U Kosunen, Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, University of Helsinki, PO Box 21, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland. timo.kosunen@helsinki.fi
Telephone: +358-9-19126298 Fax: +358-9-19126382
Received: April 21, 2005
Revised: May 10, 2005
Accepted: May 12, 2005
Published online: November 21, 2005
Abstract

AIM: To compare the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) IgG and IgA antibodies between adult subjects, with defined gastric diseases, nondefined gastric disorders and those representing the population.

METHODS: Data on H pylori IgG and IgA antibodies, determined by enzyme immunoassay, were analyzed in 3 252 subjects with DGD including 482 patients with gastric ulcer, 882 patients with duodenal ulcer, 1 525 patients with chronic gastritis only and 363 subjects with subsequent gastric cancer, 19 145 patients with NoDg and 4 854 POPUL subjects. The age-adjusted prevalences were calculated for 1- and 20-year age cohorts.

RESULTS: The prevalences of IgG antibodies were equally high (89-96%) in all 20-year age cohorts of the DGD groups, whereas the prevalences of IgG antibodies were lower and increased by age in the POPUL and NoDg groups. The prevalences of IgA antibodies were also higher in the DGD groups; among them CA (84-89%) and GU groups (78-91%) showed significantly higher prevalences than DU (68-77%) and CG patients (59-74%) (OR 2.49, 95%CI 1.86-3.34 between the GU and DU groups). In the CA, GU, and DU groups, the IgA prevalences showed only minor variation according to age, while they increased by age in the CG, POPUL, and NoDg groups (P≤0.0001). The IgA response, but not the IgG response, was associated with an increased risk of CA (OR 2.41, 95%CI 1.79-3.53) and GU (OR 2.57, 95%CI 1.95-3.39) in comparison with CG patients.

CONCLUSION: An IgA antibody response during H pylori infection is significantly more common in CA and GU patients as compared with CG patients.

Keywords: Helicobacter pylori, IgA antibodies, Gastric cancer, Gastric ulcer, Duodenal ulcer, Chronic gastritis