Seroprevalence of AntiHelicobacter pylori and AntiCagA IgG Antibodies in Iranian Dyspeptic Patients

Background: Helicobacter pylori, a worldwide infection, is associated with several infectious diseases including gastric ulcer, peptic ulcer, and gastric cancer resulting from the cytotoxinassociated gene A (CagA). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of antiH. pylori and antiCagA IgG antibodies in Iranian dyspeptic patients. Methods: In this prospective epidemiological survey, a total of 659 patients were evaluated for the presence of general antiH. pylori IgG, and then for antiCagA IgG by two commercial ELISA kits. Results: The prevalence of general antiH. pylori IgG was 58.1% (383 of 659 patients) which increased progressively with age (P lt;0.05) and was not significantly influenced by the sex (P=0.08). The prevalence of antiCagA IgG antibody in seropositive and seronegative patients for general H. pylori IgG was 52.9% (37 of 70) and 61.9% (13 of 21), respectively. Conclusion: This is the first report on the high prevalence of antiCagA IgG in both seropositive and seronegative patients for general IgG, indicating the importance of this antibody in diagnosis of H. pylori positive patients after seroconversion of the general IgG.