Protein profile of Helicobacter pylori strains by isoelectrofocusing in patients affected by chronic gastritis.

BACKGROUND To understand if relapse, following antimicrobial treatment was due to re-infection or to recrudescence. METHODS Fifty patients with dyspepsia were studied prospectively. They were followed up by endoscopy and biopsy of antral mucosa before and after treatment with anti-microbial therapy. Gel isoelectrofocusing was used to characterize protein profile of Hp. RESULTS At baseline 40 patients were affected by chronic gastritis associated with Hp. At the end of treatment 75% patients given omeprazole, amoxicillin and clarithromycin were Hp infected: 43% showed the same protein profile and 57% different. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that the relapse is due to recrudescence or to reinfection.