ABSTRACT
Purpose To evaluate the value of immunohistochemical stain (IHC) in the diagnosis of helicobacter pylori (HP) -associated gastritis with gastric biopsy tissue. Method239 cases of gastric biopsy were selected. All patients had14 C urea breath test (UBT) at the time of gastric biopsy. IHC for HP was performed with the biopsy tissues. The results were compared with gold standard results. Gold standard was established according to the Chinese Fourth National Consensus report on HP infection with modification. It was considered positive if two or more of the three test results were positive, including IHC, UBT, and HE. Results 239 gastric biopsy specimens fit the criteria. Compared with the gold standard, the sensitivity and specificity value of IHC stains were 97.3％ and 100.0％ respectively, higher than 91.1％, 81.9％ of 14 C UBT, and 80.4％, 92.9％ of HE stain respectively. The14 C UBT showed 9.6％ false positive rate, and 4.2％ false negative rate. Conclusion IHC is a valuable test in the diagnosis of HP-associated gastritis, and it should be recommended for routine histopathologic diagnostic workup if HP gastritis is clinically suspected or chronic active gastritis is identified in the biopsy tissue.