Research Information System
HEPATO-GASTROENTEROLOGY, vol.49, no.46, pp.1177-1179, 2002 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Background/Aims: The exact pathogenesis of Helicobacter pylori infection is not fully understood. This study aims to evaluate the specific subset composition of peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients with H. pylori-positive duodenal ulcer n=14), chronic antral gastritis n=28), since reports so far have led to inconclusive and conflicting results. Methodology: 42 patients with dyspepsia and 50 controls underwent the following procedures: 1) gastroscopy and gastric biopsy (five specimens) 2) histology, 3) serologic test for anti-H. pylori antibodies IgG (Pyloriset EIA-G, Orion Diagnostica) and anti-cytotoxin associated gene A (cag A) IgG antibodies (VIVA Diagnositika by ELISA), 4) analysis of the peripheral blood lymphocytes using monoclonal antibodies reacting with lymphocyte cell surface antigens (anti-CD3, anti-CD19, anti-CD4, anti-CD8, anti-CD16 + CD56, anti-HLA DR) by flow-cytometry (Becton-Dickinson) to detect possible changes in the lymphocytes subpopulation in patients with duodenal ulcer and chronic antral gastritis. Results: We found no alteration in total T and B lymphocytes and CD4(+) T, CD8(+) T lymphocytes and natural killer cells of both duodenal ulcer and chronic antral gastritis patients compared to normal persons. although there was a slight increase in the proportion of active T lymphocytes in duodenal ulcer and chronic antral gastritis groups comparing to healthy subjects the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusions: These data indicate that there is no systemic alteration in the specific immune system in response to H. pylori in patients with duodenal ulcer and chronic antral gastritis.