Evaluation of RUT, and ELISA Tests for Detection of Helicobacter pylori in Dyspeptic Patients Visiting a Tertiary Care Hospital, South India

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori is main causative agent of acute gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. In certain population, this infection leads to gastric cancers viz., adenocarcinoma, and mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. The objective of this study was to comparatively evaluate invasive (RUT) and non-invasive (IgM and IgG ELISA) methods for detection of H. pylori infection among patients visiting a tertiary care hospital. A total of 285 dyspeptic patients undergoing endoscopic examination were included in this study. From each patient one biopsy specimen and serum samples were collected. Biopsy specimen was subjected to RUT and IgM & IgG ELISA tests were performed using serum samples. H. pylori was detected in 127 (44.6%) and 126 (44.2%) cases by RUT and IgM ELISA, respectively. H. pylori were detected in 85 (29.8%) samples by IgG ELISA. Based on the combination of RUT and IgM ELISA test, total 128 (44.9%) patients were positive for H. pylori infection. Most of the positive cases belonged to 21-40 years age group (60 of 128) followed by 41-60 years age group (31 0f 128). All the three diagnostic methods viz., RUT, IgM ELISA and IgG ELISA used in this study showed a greater prevalence of H. pylori infection in female gender compared to male gender. In this study, sensitivity of both RUT and IgM ELISA was similar across different age groups and gender. The advantage of IgM ELISA over RUT is that it does not require endoscopy. Therefore, IgM ELISA could be considered as safe and an alternative method for detection of this pathogen.