What is the role of serology in assessing Helicobacter pylori eradication?
AIM: To assess the decline in Helicobacter pylori antibodies after eradication of infection. METHODS: The H. pylori status was determined at entry (D0) by culture and histology performed on antral biopsies and after eradication treatment at day 42 (day 42) and after 6 months (M6) by the 13C-urea breath test. The EIA kits used to determine the anti-H. pylori antibody titre were HM-CAP (immunoglobulin-G) and PP-CAP (immunoglobulin-A) kits (Enteric Products, Inc.) and Pyloriset EIA-G (Orion Diagnostica). RESULTS: Ninety-three patients were included. For 82 patients who were successfully treated, no kit was sufficiently accurate at D42 to show eradication. The antibody titre decreased for HM-CAP, PP-CAP and Pyloriset EIA-G by a mean of 35.6%, 41.2% and 64.7% between D0 and M6, respectively. According to the cut-off values defined by the manufacturers, 8.5% (PP-CAP, Pyloriset EIA-G) and 9.7% (HM-CAP) of the patients became H. pylori negative at M6. Using a 25% decrease in antibody titre bet
