Non-invasive laboratory markers assessing efficacy of Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy

Effective eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection is an important means to reduce the risk of precancerous changes in the gastric mucosa and prevention of gastric cancer. A search for non-invasive diagnostic tools for Helicobacter pylori infection, evaluation of the effectiveness of eradication remains of high importance.

The aim of the study was to assess an informative value of detecting pepsinogen I and II as well as serum antibodies to Helicobacter pylori while assessing an efficacy of treated chronic Helicobacter gastritis and identifying preneoplastic changes in the stomach mucosa. There enrolled 113 male patients with chronic gastritis aged 41 to 76, average age- (56.7±0.7) years. Examination of patients was carried out at admission to the clinic, as well as at 2 and 12 months after administering a standard eradication therapy. It was found that Helicobacter pylori infection was detected in 101 (89.4%) patients. Groups of patients with effective eradication therapy were noted. A time-dependent level of antibodies to Helicobacter pylori, as well as measured concentration of pepsinogen I and II after the onset of eradication treatment were determined. Which were analyzed in connection with the results of histology examination of gastric mucosa biopsy specimens and expression of oncoproteins Ki-67, Bcl-2, c-erbB-2, p16 in the gastric mucosa depending on efficacy of eradication therapy. It is shown that effective eradication therapy was characterized by significantly decreased serum level of IgG antibodies to Helicobacter pylori 2 months after the onset of treatment. Moreover, a significantly decreased pepsinogen II and serum IgG antibodies to Helicobacter pylori during eradication therapy were accompanied by a significant decrease in Ki-67 expression in the gastric epithelium. Decreased concentration of pepsinogen II within the first year after Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy was due to a greater decrease in activity of inflammatory changes in the gastric mucosa than to dynamic changes in gastric atrophy and metaplasia. An inverse relation between the serum level of pepsinogen I and atrophy as well as intestinal metaplasia within the gastric mucosa were found.