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World J Gastroenterol. Nov 14, 2006; 12(42): 6869-6873
Published online Nov 14, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i42.6869
Analysis of serum antibody profile against H pylori VacA and CagA antigens in Turkish patients with duodenal ulcer
Yusuf Erzin, Sibel Altun, Ahmet Dobrucali, Mustafa Aslan, Sibel Erdamar, Ahmet Dirican, Murat Tuncer, Bekir Kocazeybek
Yusuf Erzin, Ahmet Dobrucali, Murat Tuncer, Department of Gastroenterology, Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, 34 303 Kocamustafapasa-Istanbul, Turkey
Sibel Altun, Mustafa Aslan, Bekir Kocazeybek, Department of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, 34303 Kocamustafapasa-Istanbul, Turkey
Sibel Erdamar, Department of Pathology, Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, 34303 Kocamustafapasa-Istanbul, Turkey
Ahmet Dirican, Department of Biostatistics, Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, 34303 Kocamustafapasa-Istanbul, Turkey
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Bekir Kocazeybek, Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Department of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, 34303 Kocamustafapasa-Istanbul, Turkey. bekirkcz@superonline.com
Telephone: +90-212-4143075 Fax: +90-212-6322122
Received: April 15, 2006
Revised: May 15, 2006
Accepted: May 25, 2006
Published online: November 14, 2006
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the frequency of seropositivity against CagA, VacA proteins and to determine their independent effects on the development of duodenal ulcer (DU) in Turkish patients.

METHODS: The study was designed as a prospective one from a tertiary referral hospital. Dyspeptic patients who were referred to our endoscopy unit for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy between June 2003 and March 2004 and diagnosed to have DU or nonulcer dyspepsia (NUD) were included. Biopsies from the antrum and body of the stomach were taken in order to assess the current H pylori status by histology, rapid urease test and culture. Fasting sera were obtained from all patients and H pylori status of all sera was determined by IgG antibodies using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. All seropositive patients were further analysed using Western blot assays detecting IgG antibodies against CagA and VacA proteins. The χ2 test was used for statistical comparison of the values and age-sex adjusted multiple regression analysis was used to determine the independent effects of CagA and VacA seropositivities on the development of DU.

RESULTS: Sixty-three patients with DU and 62 patients with NUD were eligible for the final analysis. Seropositivity for anti-CagA was detected in 51 of 62 (82%), and in 55 of 63 (87%) patients with NUD and DU, respectively (P = no significance), and seropositivity for anti-VacA was found in 25 of 62 (40% ) and in 16 of 63 (25%) patients, with NUD and DU, respectively.

CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that none of these virulence factors is associated with the development of DU in the studied Turkish patients with dyspepsia.

Keywords: H pylori; Western blot; CagA; VacA; Duodenal ulcer