Serum pepsinogens as markers of Helicobacter pylori eradication

Abstract Various methods, both invasive and noninvasive, are used to verify Helicobacter pylori eradication, with varying degrees of accuracy. The purpose of this study was to verify the relationship between H pylori eradication and serum levels of pepsinogen A (PGA) and pepsinogen C (PGC). The study involved 79 patients who tested positive for H pylori infection after histologic examination and the urease test. Patients were treated with various drug regimens for 7 to 25 days. Two months after discontinuing treatment, endoscopy was performed to verify H pylori eradication; 33 of 79 patients were found to be free of infection. Venous blood samples were taken to measure PGA and PGC levels before and after treatment. Patients in whom H pylori infection was eradicated had a significant drop in PGA and PGC levels, whereas in patients with persisting H pylori infection, there was a trend in which pepsinogen levels coincided with the quantity of bacteria detected. These preliminary data suggest that it may be possible to evaluate H pylori eradication by means of serum pepsinogen levels, sparing patients a follow-up endoscopy.