Comparative study of methods of diagnosis of <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> infection in Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

Background and Objective: Diagnostic tests currently in use for the detection of Helicobacter pylori have been classified into either non-invasive or invasive categories, with each having its merits and demerits, as well as superiority over the other depending on the clinical setting. This study compared the accuracy of the urea breath test, histology, serology and stool antigen assay using culture as the gold standard in the diagnosis in our clinical setting.
Method: Blood, stool, fibre-optic endoscopic gastric biopsies and breath were tested in 52 consenting dyspeptic patients for the detection of H. pylori infection.
Results: The Negative Predictive Values, Positive Predictive Values and the diagnostic accuracy obtained were 40%, 73.7%, 47.1%; 8.3% 80.6%, 62.5%; 12.5%, 94.1%, 68%; and 30%, 93.8%, 69% for Faecal antigen test, Serology, Histology and Urea breath test respectively.
Conclusion: Our findings show that histology is reliable for definitive diagnosis of H. pylori infection in dyspeptic patients in our setting and where facilities are available; UBT can be used as a non-invasive method
of assessment of eradication of infection.

Keywords: Comparison, diagnostic method, Helicobacter pylori