Helicobacter pylori Stool Antigen Test for the Detection of Helicobacter pylori Infection in Children

Choi, Kyung Dan; Yang, Hye Ran; Seo, Jeong Kee; Ko, Jae Sung; Shin, Eon Woo; Jang, Ju Young; Jung, Ji A; Seo, Jeong Wang

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The interest in non-invasive tests for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in children is increasing. The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of a new non-invasive enzyme immunoassay for H. pylori antigen in stools of children.
METHODS
Seventy-seven children(32 boys and 45 girls) who were aged from 2 to 17(mean 9.1) years, and complained of dyspeptic symptoms, were submitted to upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. During endoscopic examination, biopsy specimens were taken from antrum for histology and rapid urease test. H. pylori status was defined as infected if the results of both histology and rapid urease test were positive. Stool specimen was collected from all patients for Helicobacter pyori stool antigen (HpSA) test. Urea breath test (UBT) was performed in sixty-one children of the 77 children.
RESULTS
Fourteen children were H. pylori-positive, the other 63 children were H. pylori-negative. The results of HpSA test were positive in 15 children and negative in 62 children. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of HpSA test were 100%, 98.4%, 93.3%, and 100%, respectively. Sixty-one of the 77 children underwent both UBT and HpSA test. The sensitivity and specificity of UBT were 90.9% and 96.0%, and those of HpSA test were 100% and 98.0%, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
The HpSA test is a highly sensitive and specific non-invasive diagnostic tool for the qualitative detection of H. pylori infection in children. Thus, the HpSA test can be very helpful in diagnosing H. pylori infection in children.