Premium
Serum pepsinogen and gastrin levels in HIV‐positive patients: relationship with CD4+ cell count and Helicobacter pylori infection
Author(s) -
Fabris P.,
Pilotto A.,
Bozzola L.,
Tositti G.,
Soffiati G.,
Manfrin V.,
De Lalla F.
Publication year - 2002
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.1365-2036.2002.01234.x
Subject(s) - medicine , helicobacter pylori , gastrin , gastroenterology , pepsin , autoantibody , parietal cell , spirillaceae , gastritis , immunology , stomach , gastric mucosa , antibody , biology , biochemistry , secretion , enzyme
Background: The relationship between serum parameters of gastric function and Helicobacter pylori infection in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐positive patients is almost unknown. Aims: To investigate in HIV‐infected patients: (i) the relationship between serum gastrin and serum pepsinogens over the progressive phases of HIV‐related disease; (ii) the impact of H. pylori infection on gastrin and pepsinogen serum levels and its relation to antral histology; (iii) the prevalence of parietal cell autoantibodies. Methods: Fifty‐nine HIV‐positive patients were studied by upper endoscopy plus gastric antral biopsy. Serum samples were tested for gastrin, pepsinogen A, pepsinogen C and parietal cell autoantibodies. Results: In patients without overt acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), or with a CD4+ count of > 100 × 10 6 cells/L, mean serum levels of gastrin and pepsinogen C were higher than in subjects with AIDS or with a CD4+ count of < 100 × 10 6 cells/L ( P < 0.01). Only one patient was found to be positive for parietal cell autoantibodies. H. pylori infection was associated with increased values of gastrin and pepsinogen C only in HIV‐positive patients without AIDS or with a CD4+ count of > 100 × 10 6 cells/L. Atrophy was more frequent in patients with overt AIDS than in those without overt AIDS (57% vs. 33%, P =N.S.), and/or in patients with a CD4+ count of < 100 × 10 6 cells/L than in those with a CD4+ count of > 100 × 10 6 cells/L (62% vs. 26%, P < 0.05). Conclusions: HIV‐positive patients without overt AIDS have increased serum levels of gastrin and pepsinogen C compared with HIV‐positive patients with overt AIDS.