Serological examinations in patients with Helicobacter pylori infections.

A passive microhemagglutination test was applied for the detection of H. pylori antibodies. The presence of elevated antibody titers was most frequently encountered in the sera of patients from whom H. pylori was isolated. No relationship between the level of antibodies and the clinical picture of peptic ulcer disease was noted. In addition, negative results from bacteriologic and serologic studies in patients with confirmed histopathologic changes and typical clinical symptoms may suggest that peptic ulcer disease and chronic inflammation of gastric mucosa is not always accompanied by the presence of H. pylori. It is concluded that the passive microhemagglutination test is a convenient and easily performed screening method.