Long-term strict monitoring of plasma ghrelin and other serological markers of gastric diseases after Helicobacter pylori eradication

Hepatogastroenterology. 2005 Jan-Feb;52(61):1-4.

Abstract

We report on a case of chronic atrophic gastritis in which the serological markers of gastric diseases were strictly monitored for 2 years after successful Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication. A 31-year-old man with upper abdominal pain was diagnosed as having H. pylori infection. Laboratory examination revealed low serum levels of pepsinogen (PG) I, low PG I/II ratio, and low plasma levels of ghrelin. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed severe corpus-dominant atrophic gastritis. H. pylori eradication therapy was performed. Successful eradication was confirmed three months later by the 13C urea breath test. Decreased serum PG II levels and an increased serum PG I/II ratio were detected a week after completion of the eradication therapy. The serum anti-H. pylori IgG titer decreased to less than 75% of the baseline level by 24 weeks after completion of the eradication therapy. On the other hand, the plasma levels of total and active ghrelin showed no marked changes after successful eradication therapy. This is the first report of long-term follow-up of changes of the plasma ghrelin levels after H. pylori eradication therapy, the observations suggesting that reduction of plasma ghrelin levels cannot be achieved merely by H. pylori eradication, without resolution of the gastric atrophy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Gastritis, Atrophic / blood*
  • Gastritis, Atrophic / microbiology*
  • Gastritis, Atrophic / pathology
  • Ghrelin
  • Helicobacter Infections / blood*
  • Helicobacter Infections / drug therapy*
  • Helicobacter Infections / pathology
  • Helicobacter pylori*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pepsinogen A / blood
  • Pepsinogen C / blood
  • Peptide Hormones / blood*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Biomarkers
  • Ghrelin
  • Peptide Hormones
  • Pepsinogen C
  • Pepsinogen A