The prevalence of detection of antibodies to CagA virulence factor of H.pylori in patients with a positive result for 13C- urease breath test in Moscow population

Abstract

Background: H.pylori infection is widespread in the world and affects about 41% of the world’s population according to the modern data. H.pylori causes chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, gastric cancer and MALT lymphoma. The outcomes of H.pylori infection depend both on features of macroorganism and the characteristics of the pathogen itself. CagA antigen is one of the most studed virulence factors of H.pylori, it increases the risk of developing atrophic gastritis and gastric cancer.
Aim: To evaluate the prevalence of total antibodies to CagA virulence factor of H.pylori in patients with a positive ¹³C- urease breath test (¹³C- UBT) result in Moscow population.
Methods: 1871 H.pylori -positive patients (901 men and 970 women) were examined in A.S. Loginov Moscow Clinical Scientific Center from June 2022 to July 2025. H.pylori -positive status of the patients was confirmed by ¹³C- UBT (DOB value > 4.0%). The mean age of the patients was 47.45 ± 13.92 years (from 18 to 80 years). They underwent a serological study of total antibodies to CagA antigen of H.pylori (JSC «Vector-Best», Russia), normal level is < 0.41 conventional unit (c.u.).
Results: Antibodies to CagA virulence factor of H.pylori were detected in 1056 patients among 1871 H.pylori -positive patients (56.44%). The mean level of total antibodies to CagA virulence factor was 1.971 ± 0.84 c.u.. The prevalence of antibodies to CagA antigen was the same among men and women: 56.6% in men, 56.29% in women.
Conclusion: This study shows a high prevalence of detection of total antibodies to CagA virulence factor of H.pylori (56.44%) in Moscow population. It demonstrates the great importance of diagnosis and treatment of H.pylori infection.