Serological tests for monitoring Helicobacter pylori eradication treatment

Abstract

Serological tests for the detection of Helicobacter pylori-specific antibodies are useful in epidemiological studies, as a pre-endoscopic screening procedure, and as therapeutic follow-up. For the latter application, they represent an alternative to invasive and expensive diagnostic methods such as endoscopy and breath test, respectively. However, serological tests are suitable only for long-term treatment monitoring in adults. As the significant reduction of specific antibodies, and not seronegativity by itself, is regarded as a criterion of therapeutic success, it is always necessary to establish the antibody kinetics. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based tests are best suited for this. The most relevant antibody class to be detected is H. pylori-specific IgG. The main indication for employing serology is the therapeutic follow-up of patients who, on the whole, are free of complaints.