Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Campylobacter pyloridis: Correlation with Presence of C. pyloridis in the Gastric Mucosa

Abstract

Antibody to Campylobacter pyloridis was measured by ELISA in the sera of 160 patients from whom gastric biopsy specimens were also obtained. The antigen was an acid-glycine extract of C. pyloridis, and titers ranged from 80 to 22,000 ELISA units (EU). Of 117 patients in whom C. pyloridis was detected microhiologically or histologically, 87 (74%) had a titer ⩾300 EU, and only one had a titer 300 EU. Thus, for a titer of 300 EU the ELISA test had a specificity of 97% and a sensitivity of 81%. At 150 EU the specificity was 78%, and the sensitivity was 99%. Histological diagnosis of active chronic gastritis was associated with a high median ELISA titer (485 E), chronic gastritis with a much lower titer (150 EU), and normal histology with a titer of 110 EU. Discriminating use of this serological test could be of assistance to detect C. pyloridis in the gastric mucosa.