Answer: Yes. Gastric cancer is the second most common cancer in the world. Unfortunately, it still carries a poor prognosis, and treatment options are limited. Patients with H. pylori infection have been repeatedly reported to have a threefold to sixfold higher incidence of gastric cancer. The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified H. pylori as [...]

Answer: The association is quite strong. Infection increases serum gastrin levels, which results in increased gastric acid production by parietal cells. Excessive acid production leads to damage of duodenal mucosa over time with subsequent development of duodenal gastric metaplasia. H. pylori may infect these duodenal “patches” of gastric mucosa, leading to duodenitis and eventual duodenal [...]

Answer: Serology-IgG or IgA antibodies directed at various bacterial antigens can be detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in serum of infected individuals. In addition, several office-based serologic methods are commercially available. Serologic methods detect evidence of primary H. pylori infection in untreated people with sensitivity and specificity >90%. Although antibody levels may fall after [...]

Answer: Histopathologic examination is widely available, and specimens are easy to store. Organisms can be detected with standard hematoxylin and eosin stains or special stains, such as Giemsa or Warthin-Starry, which make the organisms easier to identify. The sensitivity and specificity of histopathology for H. pylori are greater than 95% but may be influenced by [...]