Comparing Diagnostic Accuracy of the fliD Gene and the glmM Gene in Helicobacter pylori

Abstract

Background: Helicobacter pylori is one of the most common human bacterial infections, accounting for the infection of half of the world's population. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has high specificity and sensitivity in diagnosing this bacterial infection. Objectives: The present study aimed to compare the sensitivity and specificity of the fliD gene and the most widely used glmM gene in the PCR technique. Methods: The research population encompassed patients with indications for upper endoscopy. This cross-sectional study compared the sensitivity and specificity of a proposed gene (fliD) with the most widely used glmM gene to detect the H. pylori infection in tissue samples. Results: The participants encompassed ninety-nine participants aged above 18 years. Their median age was 45.92 ± 13.63 years. The most common complaints of the patients were epigastric pain and heartburn. Our described gold standard detected 61.6% and 38.4% as positive and negative, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity were 72.1% and 100.0% for the routine PCR (glmM gene) and 80.3% and 94.7% for the proposed PCR (fliD gene). Conclusions: Different genes have been used to detect H. pylori in PCR. The glmM gene is easily used to diagnose the H. pylori infection; however, according to the present findings, the fliD gene has higher sensitivity than the glmM gene. Accordingly, the former can be used as a screening gene for the H. pylori infection in the PCR technique.