Clinical implication of immunoglobulin g levels in the management of patients with helicobacter pylori infection

Objective: the objective of this research was to gauge the diagnostic utility of serology tests compared with urea breaths tests (ubts) and determine reliable threshold values/ranges for diagnosis of helicobacter pylori infection using only immunoglobulin (ig) g results.methods: data were obtained from 371 patients with ubts and/or serology tests. quantitative results were converted to multiple of minimum positive value (mmpv). results were paralleled to obtain percentage change in serum igg levels and 95% confidence intervals were obtained to establish new ranges for diagnosis.results: treated patients with only serology tests in a time frame of 3 to 6 months after final treatment displayed a 68.33% 2.95% decrease in 95% confidence interval of serum igg. uninfected patients with serology and ubt results within 2 weeks displayed a range of 1.32 0.23 mmpv; infected patients produced a range of 3.32 0.88 mmpv.conclusion: treated patients should display a 65.38% to 71.28% decrease in serum igg levels,along with an ending igg level of <1.75 u/ml or <4.025 ev (elisa value). before treatment or exposure,patients with serum igg values of 1.09 to 1.55 u/ml or 2.507 to 3.565 ev or lower are generally uninfected. because of the lower cost and high confidence of results,we believe that igg testing should be considered as a reasonable and even perhaps preferred method of monitoring h. pylori infections. (j am board fam med 2014;27:682- 689.).