Published online Nov 15, 2004. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v10.i22.3342
Revised: September 4, 2003
Accepted: September 12, 2003
Published online: November 15, 2004
AIM: To assess Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) seroprevalence in a cohort of Greek patients with lung cancer.
METHODS: Seventy-two lung cancer patients (55 males and 17 females, aged 58.2 ± 11.7 years) and 68, age and gender-matched, control subjects were enrolled. All subjects underwent an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay IgG serologic test for H pylori diagnosis.
RESULTS: A correlation between age and H pylori IgG level was detected for both lung cancer patients (r = 0.42, P = 0.004) and controls (r = 0.44, P = 0.004). Seropositivity for H pylori did not differ significantly between patients with lung cancer and controls (61.1% vs 55.9%, P > 0.05). Concerning the mean serum concentration of IgG antibodies against H pylori, no significant difference between the two groups was detected (32.6 ± 19.1 vs 27.4 ± 18.3 U/mL, P > 0.05).
CONCLUSION: No significant association between H pylori infection and lung cancer was found.