ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to investigate the reliability of the Helicobacter Pylori (HP) stool antigen test after eradication treatment in patients with evidence of HP colonization.

This study was completed in our surgical endoscopy unite. A total of 40 patients who were given eradication treatment for HP colonization were included in the study. Gastric biopsies, gastroscopy and HP stool antigen tests were performed between four weeks and three months after the initial endoscopies. Comparative evaluations were done at this stage.

Twenty-three patients (56%) were male and 17 (42%) were female. The mean age of the subjects was 46 (range: 30-64) and standard deviation was 8.86. Gastric biopsy results were compared with the stool antigen test results and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.003). In this comparison, Fisher's Exact Chi-Square Test and Kappa values were used. After eradication therapy, the sensitivity and specificity of the HP stool antigen test were 79% and 86%, respectively.

When the gastric biopsy results compared with the results of stool antigen test, the findings were statistically significant with moderate reliability. Unlike the literature, HP stool antigen test has lower sensitivity and specificity.