Seroprevalence of immunoglobulin G, M, and A antibodies to Helicobacter pylori in an unselected Danish population

Abstract

The seroprevalences of increased levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG), M (IgM), and A (IgA) antibodies to Helicobacter pylori were assessed by enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay techniques in 3,589 Danes who participated in a population study in Copenhagen County in 1982. A total of 33.9% of the study population had one or more classes of increased antibodies to H. pylori. Increased levels of IgG, IgM, and IgA antibodies to H. pylori were seen in 25.9% (95% confidence interval (CI) 24.5-27.3), 4.5% (95% CI 2.2-7.0), and 12.0% (95% CI 10.9-13.1) of the participants, respectively. Women were significantly more likely than men to be seropositive for IgM antibodies (Mantel-Haenszel summary odds ratio = 1.85, 95% CI 1.34-2,57). Seropositivity for IgM antibodies to H. pylori was found less often with increasing age. An IgG antibody response was not seen in 23.7% of cases with overall increased antibodies to H. pylori. Increased levels of IgG or IgA antibodies were more frequent in people with a history of peptic ulcer disease. Seroprevalences of increased H. pylori antibodies are high in unselected populations. Primary H. pylori infections are contracted at all ages, but infection rates decline with age. inclusion of measurements of IgA and IgM antibody levels in future screening for H. pylori may improve the diagnostic sensitivity of serologic analyses.