Relation between Helicobacter pylori and atrophic gastritis in elderly: Estimation of serum (gastrin 17 and pepsinogen-I) as novel biomarkers

Background: Serum levels of gastrin-17 (S-G-17) and pepsinogen I (S-PGI) are biomarkers of gastric antral and corpus mucosa, respectively. We determined whether these tests, together with the assay of Helicobacter pylori antibodies, are a nonendoscopic tool for the diagnosis of atrophic gastritis. Objectives: To study the relation between H. pylori infection and atrophic gastritis in the elderly through the estimation of gastrin 17 and pepsinogen I as novel noninvasive diagnostic biomarkers. Material and methods: The present study included sixty individuals suffering from gastritis there were divided into two groups. Group (I): Thirty patients having H. pylori infection aged above 65 years. Group (II): Thirty patients without H. pylori infection aged above 65 years. All individualswere subjected to diagnostic upper-gastrointestinal endoscopy and specific gastric biomarkers (serum gastrin-17, serum pepsinogen I/II). Results: Serum pepsinogen I, II, ratio and gastrin 17 decrease with increasing grade of atrophy of the antrum respectively. Serum pepsinogen I, II, gastrin 17 were significantly lower in mild, moderate, and severe gastritis compared to superficial gastritis patients. Conclusion: The diagnosis of atrophic gastritis obtained with the blood test panel of G.17, SPG I/II and H. pylori antibodies is in good agreement with the endoscopic and biopsy finding. The panel is a tool for nonendoscopic diagnosis and screening of atrophic gastritis.