Helicobacter pylori Antibodies, #383

• Sample required: one 10 mL SST (tiger top) decanted serum
• Lab reporting time: 3 – 4
• business days

Overview
The Helicobacter pylori Antibodies test uses serum to assess the presence of IgG, IgA and IgM to Helicobacter pylori, a pathogenic bacterium that can inhabit the stomach, esophagus and upper duodenum. It can cause parietal cell degradation and thus impair the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach leading to compromised protein digestion, ulcerated digestive epithelium, acid reflux, bloating, belching, and stomach cancer.

Clinical Aspects
The IgM antibody is the early responder. IgM is elevated during the early stages of an exposure to H. pylori. There are two possible outcomes, either the immune system will eradicate the bacteria or the bacteria will begin to populate the mucosal lining of the upper GI tract. If IgM is the only elevated antibody to H. pylori, it must be correlated with active symptoms to warrant treatment. If asymptomatic, it is quite possible that the patient's immune system has won the battle with H. pylori on its own. If treatment is not chosen at this time, it would be prudent to retest in 2-3 months to make sure that the patients' immune system has in fact eradicated the infection.

The IgA antibody is the intermediate responder and quantitatively the second most prevalent humoral antibody. If IgA is elevated, there is presumptive evidence that an infection exists and it is transitioning from acute to chronic/long term condition. An elevated IgA level frequently accompanies an elevated IgG level.

The IgG antibody is the long term responder. IgG elevations mean that either a long term chronic infection exists that was either treated or untreated, or it is indicative of a protective antibody from a past infection that was resolved. Also, present research studies indicate that a positive IgG is in fact an ongoing infection, provided the patient was not treated for H. pylori within the previous six months. The patient must be asked about current symptoms and past H. pylori infections and treatments in order to distinguish clinically relevant results. If necessary, other lab tests may be indicated to clinically correlate all data to a final accurate diagnosis.

The findings of this test are applicable in treating a broad range of health concerns, primarily GI related problems (i.e. hypochlorhydria, achlorhydria, stomach ulcers, B12, folate, iron deficiency and stomach cancer). This test can be can be used in conjunction with Helicobacter pylori Stool Antigen test (BHD #418). A positive stool antigen test always indicates active infection.

Conditions Assessed
Serum IgG, IgA and IgM antibodies, along with the BHD #418 Helicobacter pylori Stool Antigen test, provide the highest detection of both acute and chronic H. pylori infections.

Logical Sequence of Testing
The logical sequence of using this test as an initial or a follow-up test is determined by a variety of individual considerations, including the patient's chief complaint, the array of signs and symptoms, the chronicity of the condition, the tests previously taken, and the judgment of the practitioner. Technical assistance is available from BioHealth Diagnostics' support staff.