Evaluation of an ELISA for Detection of Anti-parietal Cell Antibody

Background/aims: Anti-parietal cell antibody (APCA) is used for diagnosis of pernicious anemia and type A gastritis. APCA is present in patients with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-positive gastritis and is related to atrophic gastritis and gastric carcinoma. The aim of the study was to determine whether an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) can be used to detect APCA.

Methodology: Study subjects were 134 patients (74 men, 60 women; mean age, 63 years; range, 18-88 years) with gastric carcinoma, gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, gastritis, type A gastritis or pernicious anemia and H. pylori-negative normal mucosa subjects in the stomach. APCA was measured in all subjects by our ELISA method. Results of ELISA were compared with results of indirect immunofluorescence (IIF).

Results: The percentage of samples that were APCA-positives by IIF at a 1/20 or greater serum dilutions was similar to that by ELISA (86.9%). Agreement between ELISA and IIF for presence of APCA was 78.3% in patients with gastric carcinoma, 80.1% (gastric ulcer), 59.1% (duodenal ulcer), 51.7% (gastritis), 75.0% (type A gastritis), 100% (pernicious anemia) and 80.0% (normal).

Conclusions: ELISA is a useful method for detection of APCA for diagnosis of PA and type A gastritis.