Study of the clinical relevance of Helicobacter pylori virulence genes to gastric diseases among Egyptian patients

Background and study aimsHelicobacter pylori infection is common in Egypt. It has been associated with gastritis, ulcers and it is a risk factor for gastric cancer. We aimed to study the correlation between the presence of H. pylori virulence factors and the histopathological and endoscopic findings in gastric biopsies.Patients and methodsGastric biopsies from thirty seven patients scheduled for diagnostic endoscopy in Cairo University hospital were included in the study. All gastric biopsies were subjected to histopathological examination and PCR assay for detection of 16S rRNA gene to diagnose H. pylori infection, detection of H. pylori virulence factors by PCR for cagA and vacA genotypes and serological analysis of H. pylori (cagA, vacA, P25, and P19) IgG antibodies by immunoblot assay were done.ResultsH. pylori infection was detected in 23 (62.2%) cases by histopathology while 28/37 (75.7%) were positive for H. pylori 16S rRNA gene by PCR. By PCR seventeen samples out of 37 (45.9%) were positive for cagA gene and five (13.5%) for cag empty site gene.ConclusionThe most common vacA genotype identified was vacA s2m2 genotype in 10 (27.02%). No statistical correlation was found between IgG antibodies against different antigens of H. pylori virulence factors (cagA, vacA, p25, and p19) and the degree of gastritis except for IgG antibodies against the UreA antigen.