J Lab Med Qual Assur.  2004 Jun;26(1):193-196.

The Seroprevalence of IgM and IgG Antibodies to Helicobacter pylori Among Maternal, Neonatal, and Cord Bloods in Korea

• Chang EA
• Suh IB
• Ma KR

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection has been known closely related with gastritis, duodenal ulcer and gastric cancer and is prevalent among Koreans. However, the infection route and the time are unclear, especially during perinatal period. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship of H. pylori IgG and IgM antibody prevalences and titers between maternal, neonatal, and cord blood.
METHODS
We collected 45 simultaneous maternal, neonatal, and cord bloods and 150 single cord bloods during delivery. The specific H. pylori IgG and IgM antibody levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method.
RESULTS
The H. pylori IgG antibody-positive rate for maternal, neonatal, and cord bloods were equal as 35.6% (16/45). The H. pylori IgG antibody levels of neonatal and cord bloods were 52.7% and 70.7% of maternal blood level. The H. pylori IgG antibody levels between maternal and cord bloods (r2 = 0.9725, p<0.05), maternal and neonatal bloods (r2 = 0.8569, p<0.05), and neonatal and cord bloods (r2 = 0.9437, p<0.05) were well correlated. Only one case of maternal blood was H. pylori IgM antibody positive and it's antibody level was 52.3 U/mL.
CONCLUSIONS
In this study, we provided the sero-prevalence of H. pylori IgG and IgM antibodies and the relationship of antibody level of H. pylori IgG in maternal, neonatal and cord bloods. To elucidate the exact route and time of H. pylori infection, further studies including serial measurement of H. pylori IgG and IgM level in neonates will be needed.

Keyword

H. pylori infection; H. pylori IgG antibody; H. pylori IgM antibody; Cord blood; Seroprevalence

MeSH Terms

Antibodies*
Duodenal Ulcer
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Fetal Blood*
Gastritis
Helicobacter pylori*
Helicobacter*
Humans
Immunoglobulin G*
Immunoglobulin M*
Infant, Newborn
Korea*
Prevalence
Seroepidemiologic Studies*
Stomach Neoplasms
Antibodies
Immunoglobulin G
Immunoglobulin M