[Evaluation of polymerase chain reaction for diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection].

To evaluate diagnostic tests of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), we compared polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the specific detection of H. pylori, culture and positivity of serum antibody against the bacteria in 59 patients with gastroduodenal disease. PCR assay was designed to amplify 203bp of DNA fragments. PCR detected 10pg of H. pylori DNA, or 40 CFU of the bacteria. PCR was positive in 82.1% of histological gastritis with neutrophil infiltration. Culture and serum antibody to H. pylori were positive in 65.0%, and 94.1% of those patients. Detection rate by PCR was significantly higher than that by the culture methods in patients with chronic gastritis. These results demonstrate that PCR is a sensitive diagnostic test for H. pylori infection.