Determination of serum pepsinogen I and II level at high risk for stomach cancer

The levels of pepsinogen (PG) I and the PGI/II ratio are useful serologic markers for chronic atrophic gastritis. This study evaluated the performance and clinical implications of these markers in patients undergoing endoscopy. This study was carried at the gastrointestinal unit at AL-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital. Blood samples with antral biopsies were obtained from 127 patients who were complaining from gastroduodenal disease. Patients included 64 with chronic gastritis and 30 with gastric carcinoma. A further 33 healthy persons, uninfected with H.pylori were involved as a control group. Every gastric biopsy examined by histology and rapid urease test. In addition, patient s sera were screened for the presence of H.pyloriIgG antibodies, serum level of PGI and PGII. According to the histological data it was demonstrated that the adenocarcinoma patients were more prevalent than other type of gastric cancer. There was a significant p 0.05 increased level of pepsinogen I and II in the serum of patients that infected with H.pylori, and the ratio SPGI/SPGII was reduced when compared with the subjects who were uninfected with H.pylori. The mean level of SPGI was significantly lower p 0.05 in patients with gastric carcinoma than patients with normal mucosa and chronic gastritis. However, the serum PGII increased significantly p 0.05 in gastric carcinoma, with lower ratio. In conclusion low serum PGI and lower ratio SPGI/SPGII might be used as a marker for predicting of gastric cancer.