Relationship of the Intensity of Helicobacter pylori and Severity of Inflammation with Beta-2 Microglobulin Levels in Serum According to the Updated Sydney System:

The relationship between Helicobacter pylori and beta-2 microglobulin in humans

H. pylori is related to various gastrointestinal diseases. β₂ Microglobulin (β₂M) is an intrinsic element of major histocompatibility complex (MHC I). Serum β₂M level may increase in inflammatory states. The aim of current study is to evaluate the relationship between β₂M and H. pylori bearing CagA strains. Methods. H. pylori status was determined by histopathology of samples taken from stomach. CagA status and β₂M level were measured from blood samples of patients. Eradication therapy was administered to the patients with H. pylori infection. β₂ Microglobulin levels were measured before and after treatment. Results. 35 (29.2%) H. pylori(−) patients and 85 (70.8%) H. pylori (+) patients were included in the study. There were 52 (43.3%) patients with CagA negative and 33 (27.5%) patients with CagA positive H. pylori infection. The mean serum β₂M level was 1.83 mg/L in H. pylori (−) group, 1.76 mg/L in H. pylori (+) CagA (−) group, and 1.93 mg/L in H. pylori and CagA (+) group (P > 0.05). Serum β₂M levels (1.82 versus 1.64 mg/L P < 0.05) were decreased after eradication. Conclusion. H. pylori and CagA status did not affect β₂M level. Relationship between low grade systematic inflammation and H. pylori should be investigated to find out new predictors for diseases associated with inflammation.

Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori Infection

When an endoscopy is performed, it now becomes easier to observe indirect evidence of the presence of a Helicobacter pylori infection, given the progress of new methods including magnifying narrow band imaging or confocal laser endomicroscopy. Out of the biopsy-based tests, the novel original method proposed concerned culture in a broth medium with or without antibiotics and ELISA detection of H. pylori. New stool antigen tests are still appearing with no major improvement in comparison with the monoclonal-based tests already on the market. The combination of pepsinogen detection to H. pylori serology is now more and more evaluated to detect preneoplastic lesions.