What is GastroView? Quite simply GastroView is a window onto your stomach’s
health. This examination, that only requires a simple finger
prick sample has been developed by Biohit Oyj in Finland and
has recently been introduced to complement its laboratory,
clinic and theatre tests such as Gastropanel & Quick Tests
for H.pylori and Lactose Intolerance. One of the most common causes of stomach problems and specifically
peptic ulcers is a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori.
H. pylori is a spiral-shaped bacterium that is found
in the gastric mucosa. H. pylori causes more than 90% of duodenal
ulcers and up to 80% of gastric ulcers. Before 1982, when
this bacterium was discovered, spicy food, acid, stress, and
lifestyle were considered the major causes of ulcers. The
majority of patients were given long-term medications without
really treating the problem. These medications relieve ulcer-related
symptoms, heal gastric mucosal inflammation, and may heal
the ulcer, but they do NOT treat the infection. When acid
suppression is removed, the majority of ulcers, particularly
those caused by H. pylori, recur. Since we now know
that most ulcers are caused by H. pylori, appropriate
antibiotic regimens can successfully eradicate the infection
in most patients, with complete resolution of mucosal inflammation
and a minimal chance for recurrence of ulcers.
Over 50% of the
world's population is infected with H. pylori!
Most persons who are infected with H. pylori never
suffer any symptoms related to the infection; however, H.
pylori infection causes gastritis and atrophic gastritis
in adults and children. Infection with H. pylori
also causes duodenal and gastric ulcers. Infected persons
have a 2- to 6-fold increased risk of developing gastric cancer
and mucosal-associated-lymphoid-type (MALT) lymphoma compared
with their uninfected counterparts.
How is H. pylori infection
diagnosed?
Invasive – Gastroscopy
Upper endoscopy (gastroscopy) is considered the reference
method of diagnosis. During gastroscopy (a tube is passed
into the patients stomach via the oesophagus), biopsy specimens
of the stomach and duodenum are obtained and the diagnosis
of H. pylori can be made by several methods, e.g. by a biopsy
urease test, which is a colorimetric test based on the ability
of H. pylori to produce urease is used. For this
purpose Biohit also produce a quick test kit which is widely
used in hospitals.
Non-Invasive – GastroView
A serological tests that measures specific H. pylori
IgG and IgA antibodies can determine if a person has been
infected and has been a commonly used test for several years.
This has normally only been available from a venous blood
sample (syringe sampling from a vein) taken at a hospital
or a doctor’s office. Biohit have now combined this
test with two other extremely useful markers, Pepsinogen I
and Pepsinogen II in a patented Gastroview concept that is
available through a single finger prick sample.
Prolonged infection with H. pylori can cause a number
of problems, peptic ulcers as described above but also changes
to the gastric mucosa and “Atrophic gastritis”
in particular. In a process of chronic gastritis of the stomach
mucosa, gastric glandular cells are lost and eventually replaced
by intestinal and fibrous tissues. As a result, the stomach's
secretion of essential substances such as hydrochloric acid,
pepsinogens, and intrinsic factor is impaired, leading to
digestive problems, vitamin B12 deficiency, and megaloblastic
anemia. Vitamin B12 deficiency has also been associated with
e.g. dementia. This cascade effect can lead to very serious
long-term implications.
The concentrations of these markers and the presence or absence
of H. pylori will provide a health check on your
stomach and all from a finger prick blood sample!
Who should have a Gastroview Examination?
Quite simply anybody who suffers from prolonged or continual bouts of indigestion/dyspepsia/reflux should have this test.
Many people take antacids and formulations or even prescribed
drugs to relieve the symptoms for many years without knowing
if there is an underlying long-term problem that may eventually
develop into something more serious!
5-10% of those over 45 years of age suffer from mildly symptomatic
or most often completely asymptomatic atrophic gastritis which
is associated with the risk of gastric cancer, peptic ulcer
disease and vitamin B12 deficiency. Vitamin B12 deficiency
may increase the risk of, e.g. dementia, depression and damage
to the peripheral nervous system (www.b12.com
). Vitamin B12 deficiency, which is fast becoming a disease
of public importance as the global population ages, also affects
an increase of the level of homocysteine in the body, which
in turn is a possible independent risk factor for atherosclerosis
as well as heart attacks and strokes (www.homocysteine.com).
In addition to asymptomatic atrophic gastritis, the GastroView
examination also detects gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Approximately one fourth of the population suffer from this
condition that puts the patient at risk of severe complications
including erosive esophagitis and so-called Barrett´s
esophagus which can be asymptomatic and over time, unless
treated, can even progress into esophageal cancer.
What do the results mean?
The results are provided in a comprehensive report that can
be given to your doctor if necessary, but in layman’s
terms the combination of results from the markers tested (H.
pylori, Pepsinogen I and Pepsinogen II) will give a good
indication of the level of atrophic gastritis in your gastric
mucosa (if any).
The results will also be provided with recommendations.
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