Helicobacter pylori, pepsinogens and gastrin

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori causes chronic gastritis in all infected individuals and thus may be a risk factor for the ultimate development of trophic gastritis and gastric cancer. The serum levels of pepsinogen A, pepsinogen C and gastrin can be used as markers for both non-atrophic and atrophic gastritis. METHODS: We determined the serum levels of gastrin, pepsinogen A and pepsinogen C and the pepsinogen A/C ratio in 150 H. pylori-negative and 186 H. pylori-positive individuals. RESULTS: The H. pylori infected patients had significantly higher serum levels of pepsinogen A, pepsinogen C and gastrin and a significantly lower pepsinogen A/C ratio. In the non-infected patients, none of the respective serum values changed with increasing age. In contrast, in the infected patients, the pepsinogen A level and pepsinogen A/C ratio decreased significantly with increasing age. CONCLUSION: H. pylori infection increases serum levels of pepsinogen A, pepsinogen C and gastrin and decreases the pepsinogen A/C ratio. In infected subjects, levels of pepsinogen A and the pepsinogen A/C ratio decrease with ageing. These findings support the concept of H. pylori as a risk factor for the development of atrophic gastritis.