Assay-IgG to Campylobacter pylori in histological chronic and biopsy Campylobacter positive gastritis

A convenient enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) to titrate serum immunoglobin G to Campylobacter pylori (Cp) is described. It was found that 80% of the serum samples obtained from patients with Cp-associated chronic gastritis (N= 476) displayed statistically raised IgG anti-Cp, as compared to healthy volunteer controls (N= 24). Titers in patient sera were statistically higher than the average control value plus twice the standard deviation, thus supporting Cp involvement in these gastric diseases. Also, ELISA inhibition experiments suggested that antigenic variation among various Cp isolates is likely, thus indicating the need for subgrouping of Cp. We note the usefulness of the above IgG anti-Cp ELISA for sero-epidemiological studies of Cp associated chronic gastritis, especially those tracing the source of Cp infections and those determining potentially disease related Cp subgroups.