Serologic and stool antigen assay of Helicobacter pylori infection in hyperemesis gravidarum: which test is useful during early pregnancy?

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) during early pregnancy by using serologic and stool antigen tests in developing South Anatolia region of Turkey.

Materials and methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was performed on 40 pregnant women with HG and 40 asymptomatic controls without gastric problems at 7-12 weeks of gestation. The sociodemographic characteristics were recorded. The presence of H pylori was analyzed in the sera of the study-group patients by serology-specific IgG test in serum and by a stool antigen test in fecal samples.

Results: The rates of serology-specific H pylori IgG positivity were 80% (32 of 40) in patients with HG and 35% (14 of 40) in control group. The difference between the two groups was significant [odds ratio: 6.9 (confidence interval: 2.2-22.1); p<0.01]. The rates of H pylori stool antigen test positivity were 87.5% (35 of 40) in patients with HG and 62.5% (25 of 40) in control groups. The difference between the two groups was significant (odds ratio: 4.5, confidence interval: 1.09-18.5); p=0.028.

Conclusion: Both serology-specific IgG and stool antigen tests seem to be good screening methods to identify H pylori in our pregnant patient population with HG during early pregnancy.