Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection by PCR in gastric juice and gastroesophageal biopsies from dyspeptic patients

Helicobacter pylori is the main bacterial agent implicated in human gastroduodenal inflammatory pathologies; being one of the most common bacterial pathogens, with a high prevalence in Venezuela. The diagnosis of H. pylori infection is performed primarily in gastric biopsies through PCR; however, string-absorbed gastric juice and esophageal biopsies could be also used as alternative specimens to determine the infection. In this study the H. pylori infection was assessed in different specimens of the upper tract digestive of dyspeptic patients, though the detection by PCR of essential genes (glmM and ureA) and genes encoding virulence factors (cagA). Of 104 patients studied, H. pylori was found in 53.8, 69,2 and 58,7% of gastric juice, and gastric and esophageal biopsies, respectively; with predominance of the strains type I (cagA+) in juice and gastric biopsies, and strains type II (cagA-) in esophageal biopsies. The detection of H. pylori in gastric juice and esophageal biopsies showed high sensitivity and specificity, in comparison with the detection in gastric biopsies, suggesting that both types of specimens may be used efficiently for a secure diagnosis of H. pylori infection.