The Usefulness of Helicobacter pylori IgG Antibody Test as a Screening Strategy for Peptic Ulcer and Stomach Cancer in Routine Check-up

Kim, Young Ho; Choi, Kyoo Wan; Paik, Seung Woon; Rhee, Jong Chul; Kim, Jae Jun; Koh, Kwang Cheol; Jun, Sung Kook; Son, Hee Jung; Rhee, Poong Lyul; Sung, In Kyung

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: We assessed the usefulness of serologic test for Helicobacter pylori IgG antibody as a screening strategy for peptic ulcer and stomach cancer in asymptomatic Korean adults.
METHODS
We performed GAP test to detect H. pylori IgG antibody for 8,091 healthy individuals who visited Samsung Medical Center for health check-up from November 1995 to December 1996. The status of H. pylori IgG antibody was compared with the results of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy or upper gastrointestinal barium study. We used likelihood ratio to evaluate the usefulness of H. pylori IgG antibody test in estimating the probability of peptic ulcer or stomach cancer.
RESULTS
The positive rate of H. pylori IgG antibody was 68.1% and increased with age. There was no difference in the rate according to sex, educational status, habits of alcohol consumption or smoking, and blood type. The positive rate of individuals with peptic ulcer was 74.6%, which was significantly higher than those without peptic ulcer (67.7% ). The likelihood ratios of H. pylori IgG antibody test for a positive result were only 1.10 and 0.98, respectively in predicting the presence of peptic ulcer and stomach cancer. The likelihood ratios for a negative result were 0.79 and 0.84, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
Serologic test for H. pylori was not useful as a screening strategy for peptic ulcer and stomach cancer in asymptomatic Korean adults.