Does the antibody production ability affect the serum anti-Helicobacter pylori Ig G titer?

AIM: To investigate the relationship between serum titers of anti-Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori) immunoglobulin G(IgG) and hepatitis B virus surface antibody(HBsA b).METHODS: Korean adults were included whose samples had positive Giemsa staining on endoscopic biopsy and were studied in the hepatitis B virus surface antigen(HBsA g)/HBsA b serologic assay,pepsinogen(PG) assay,and H.pylori serologic test on the same day.Subjects were excluded if they were positive for HBs Ag,had a recent history of medication,or had other medical condition(s).We analyzed the effects of the following factors on serum titers of HBsA b and the anti-H.pylori IgG : Age,density of H.pylori infiltration in biopsy samples,serum concentrations of PG Ⅰ and PG Ⅱ,PG Ⅰ/Ⅱ ratio,and white blood cell count.RESULTS: Of 111 included subjects,74(66.7%) exhibited a positive HBsA b finding.The serum anti-H.pylori IgG titer did not correlate with the serum HBsA b titer(P = 0.185); however,it correlated with the degree of H.pylori infiltration on gastric biopsy(P < 0.001) and serum PG Ⅱ concentration(P = 0.042).According to the density of H.pylori infiltration on gastric biopsy,subjects could be subdivided into those with a marked(median: 3.95,range 0.82-4.00)(P = 0.458),moderate(median: 3.37,range 1.86-4.00),and mild H.pylori infiltrations(median: 2.39,range 0.36-4.00)(P < 0.001).Subjects with a marked H.pylori infiltration on gastric biopsy had the highest serological titer,whereas in subjects with moderate and mild H.pylori infiltrations titers were correspondingly lower(P < 0.001).After the successful eradication,significant decreases of the degree of H.pylori infiltration(P < 0.001),serum anti-H.pylori IgG titer(P < 0.001),and serum concentrations of PG I(P = 0.028) and PG Ⅱ(P = 0.028) were observed.CONCLUSION: The anti-H.pylori IgG assay can be used to estimate the burden of bacteria in immunocompetent hosts with H.pylori infection,regardless of the HBsA b titer after HBV vaccination.