Abstract
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a
Gram-negative bacterium able to colonize the
gastric mucosa as well as gastric metaplastic areas
of the duodenum, producing inflammation.
The clinical outcome depends on sophisticated
interactions between bacterial factors, such as
the expression of determinants of virulence and
pathogenicity, and host characteristics. The
severity of inflammation, may then vary among
different subjects, leading to the occurrence of
different gastroduodenal diseases, ranging from
chronic gastritis to gastric cancer and MALTlymphoma,
to some defined extragastric manifestations.
Many diagnostic tests are available
for the detection of H. pylori infection including
noninvasive methods, such as serology, 13Curea
breath test (UBT), and fecal antigen tests
and invasive techniques, including a combined
use of endoscopic biopsy-based methods, such
as rapid urease testing, histology, culture, and
molecular methods.
UBT is a highly sensitive and specific and allows
to diagnose the presence or absence of infection
of H. pylori, through the oral administration
of a solution containing urea labelled with
the non-radioactive natural carbon 13. This review
article analyzes microbiological and clinical
features of H. pylori as well as the different
diagnostic tests able to detect this bacterium
with a special focus on UBT.
Lingua originale | English |
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pagine (da-a) | 51-58 |
Numero di pagine | 8 |
Rivista | European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences |
Volume | 2013 |
Stato di pubblicazione | Pubblicato - 2013 |
Keywords
- Gastric disease
- Helicobacter pylori,
- Urea breath test
- Virulence factors