Evaluación de la respuesta de inmunoglobulina a secretora anti-helicobacter pylori en saliva de pacientes con gastritis crónica

Helicobacter pylori has been implicated as the major acquired factor in the pathogenesis of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and gastric neoplasia in humans. The microorganism has been detected in dental plaque, saliva and feces. In this study, we investigated the salivary anti H. pylori immunoglubulin A (IgA) immune response in 39 dyspeptic patients and 20 healthy volunteers. Gastric antrum biopsies were taken for histological examination, urease test, culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Five mililiters of unstimulated saliva were obtained from all subjects before the endoscopy. The levels of specific antibodies in saliva were determined by ELISA test. The soluble antigen material for immunoenzymatic assay was prepared by sonication of five H. pylori strains isolated from duodenal ulcer patients. H. pylori was detected in antral samples from 24/39 (62%) patients, all of whom had chronic gastritis. Symptomatic patients infected with H. pylori showed levels significantly higher of secretory Ig A in saliva ( 0.2862 ± 0.144) than asymptomatic patients. (0.1511 ± 0.069) (p>0.005). Our results indicate that there is a correlation between the presence of H. pylori in gastric mucosa of symptomatic patients and the occurrence of secretory Ig A antibodies against H. pylori in saliva. Saliva testing is a rapid, noninvasive test that may have a role in epidemiological studies and in screening dyspeptic patients, specially in pediatric populations.