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Usefulness of Helicobacter pylori stool antigen test to monitor response to eradication treatment in children
Author(s) -
Oderda G.,
Rapa A.,
Marinello D.,
Ronchi B.,
Zavallone A.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
alimentary pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.308
H-Index - 177
eISSN - 1365-2036
pISSN - 0269-2813
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2036.2001.00915.x
Subject(s) - medicine , helicobacter pylori , breath test , urea breath test , gastroenterology , gastritis , helicobacter pylori infection
Background: The monitoring of the results of eradication treatment is a crucial step for patients with Helicobacter pylori gastritis. A non‐invasive test for H. pylori antigens in stools (HpSA) was recently validated for children. Aim: To evaluate the accuracy of HpSA in monitoring eradication treatment in children. Methods: In 60 children, H. pylori gastritis was diagnosed by endoscopy and the 13 C‐urea breath test. The children were treated and returned for a follow‐up 13 C‐urea breath test 6 weeks after the end of treatment. Children were considered cured when the 13 C‐urea breath test was negative. Stool were collected at baseline, and at 2 and 6 weeks. Stool antigens were measured by HpSA. Results: According to 13 C‐urea breath test, 6 weeks after the end of treatment 49 children were cured and 11 were still H. pylori ‐positive. The sensitivity and specificity of HpSA on stools collected 2 weeks after therapy were 100%. At 6 weeks specificity was 93.9 and sensitivity 100%. Results by visual reading were concordant with the plate‐reader in all but two cases at baseline. Conclusions: HpSA is accurate for monitoring treatment in children as early as 2 weeks after therapy, when information is most useful and unachievable with other tests. Results by visual reading are accurate, and this can make the test cheaper and more practical.