Antibody enzymes in Helicobacter pylori-associated infection

The amidase activity of a fraction of IgG antibodies to H. pylori in cases of bacterial persistence in the antral section of the stomach and the duodenal bulb and the role of enzyme antibodies in the pathogenesis of this infection were evaluated. 113 patients were examined under clinical conditions. Diagnosis was made with the use of the morphological method, the rapid urease test (Jatrox-H.p.-Test, Germany) and ELISA (Diagnostic Automation Inc., USA). The amidase activity of serum IgG was determined. As proteolytic substrate benzoylarginine-p-nitroanilide (BAPNA) was used. The study revealed that in the blood serum of patients with chronic gastritis and/or duodenitis, caused by H. pylori, and the active persistence of H. pylori in the mucous membrane IgG antibodies to H. pylori having BAPNA-amidase activity could be detected.