Short Communication
English
Kheiria A. Elfigi 1, Jamal M.Al-Ayadi 2
1-Department of Microbiology and Immu¬nology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Fateh University, Tripoli. 2-Department of Medical Laboratories, High Institute of Medical Technology, Misurata, Libya.
Libyan J Infect Dis. 2010;4(1):57-59
Abstract
Objectives: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a common worldwide infection that affects both males and females. It plays an etiological role in gastro-duodenal diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the specific anti-H. pylori IgG antibodies profile in Libyan patients with chronic dyspepsia in Tripoli.
Materials and Methods: Five hundred eighty-six Libyan patients with a mean age of 51 years (range of 16–86 years) were enrolled in the study. Two hundred seventy-three of those patients were males and three hundred thirteen were females. They were attending the gastroenterology and outpatient clinics, Tripoli Medical Center during the period of March 2007 to October 2008 suffering from upper gastrointestinal disease symptoms that included: upper abdominal discomfort, heartburn, and flatulence. From the medical history, patients were excluded if they had been previously treated for H. pylori infection. All patients were tested for anti-H. pylori IgG antibodies using Enzyme linked immunoassay (ELISA) techniques.
Results: Five hundred were positive for anti-H. pylori IgG antibodies (85.3%) and the positive rate amongst males and females was two hundred twenty-three (81.6%) and two hundred twenty-seven (88.4%), respectively (p>0.05). Although, the frequency of anti-H. pylori IgG antibodies were increased in all age subgroups of the female patients, they were increased with increasing of the age in male patients.
Conclusion: The frequency of H. pylori infection was high in the Libyan patients with chronic dyspepsia. There was a trend for higher positivity rate amongst females than males, although it was not approaching the statistical significant level. The high frequency of anti-H. pylori IgG antibodies was significantly associated with older age, particularly in males.
Keywords: Anti-Helicobacter pylori IgG, Helicobacter pylori, gastro-duodenal diseases, dyspepsia, ELISA
Link/DOI: http://www.nidcc-jid.org.ly/pdf/v4no1/Helicobacter_pylori_IgG_in_patients_with_chronic_dyspepesia_attending.pdf