Relationship Of Serum Transforming Growth Factor-alpha Concentration To Helicobacter Pylori Infection And Gastroduodenal Disease

Objects: To investigation the relationship of serum transforming growth factor-alpha concentration to Helicobater pylon infection and gastroduodenal disease. Methods: The serum samples were obtained from 172 patients whose endoscopic and pathologic diagnoses are normal (n=9), chronic gastritis (n=83), duodenal bulbar ulcer (n=35), gastric ulcer (n=27), gastric cancer (n=18). Level of TGF-α in the serum were measured by radioininunoassay. Results: 81 of 172 patients were infected by Helicobacter pylori(47.1%). There were no statistical differences between H. pyloni-postitve patients and H. pylon-negative patients(P >0.05). The serum TGF-α level in CG,Gu,Duwere significantly higher than in normal groups (P<0.05). In Gca the serum TGF-α level were significantly higher than in Gu (P0.05). At the same time, serum TGF-α level have no relation to the activity and degree of gastritis (P>0.05). The level of serum TGF-α in patients with dysplasia were significantly higher than those without intestinal metaplasia or dysplasia (P<0. 01), and there were no statistical differences between dysplasia and Gca groups (P>0.05). Conclusions: This study shows that there are no correlation between serum TGF-α level and H.pylori-associated gastroduodenal diseases. TGF-α may works as a mucosal repairing and protecting factor in benign gastroduodenal diseases. Serum TGF-α may be a potential diagnostic marker in patients with gastric cancer,and it may play a role in the carcinogenesis of gastric mucosa.