Clinical Relevance between the cagA, vacA, and iceA Status of Helicobacter pylori and Benign Gastroduodenal Diseases

Park, Seung Keun; Kim, Gwang Ha; Jeong, Eul Jo; Bae, Yong Mock; Heo, Jeong; Chu, Hung Jun; Kang, Dae Hwan; Song, Geun Am; Cho, Mong; Yang, Ung Suk

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: There have been some reports regarding the cagA genotype of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), but only a few reports regarding the vacA and iceA genotypes of H. pylori in Korea. The aim of this study was to assess the relationships between genotypes of H. pylori and the severity of benign gastroduodenal diseases such as peptic ulcer disease (PUD) and nonulcer dyspepsia (NUD).
METHODS
Seventy H. pylori-positive patients with PUD or NUD were selected. Then, the genotypes of H. pylori obtained from them were analyzed using polymerized chain reaction.
RESULTS
cagA was detected in 91.3% (64/70) of the patients. The occurrence was similar in the patients with PUD and NUD (96.4% vs. 88.1%, p=0.390). Among vacA genotypes, s1 type was predominantly observed in 84.3% (59/70) of the patients. The occurrences of their subtypes were as follows: s1a/m1, 18.6%; s1a/m2, 10.0%; s1c/m1, 51.5%; s1c/m2, 4.3%. The s1b type was not detected. The s2 type was detected in only 2.8% of the patients. There was no difference in the frequency of vacA s1 between PUD and NUD (78.6% vs. 88.1%, p=0.283). iceA1 and iceA2 were detected in 91.4% (64/70) and 4.3% (3/70) of the patients, respectively. There was no difference in the frequency of iceA1 between PUD and NUD (89.3% vs. 92.9%, p=0.601). vacA s1/cagA(+)/iceA1 strains were the most frequently found genotype, but there was no difference in the frequency between PUD and NUD (86.9% vs. 88.6%, p=1.000).
CONCLUSIONS
cagA, vacA, and iceA genotypes of H. pylori strains are not associated with the severity of benign gastroduodenal diseases.