COMPARISON OF RAPID UREASE TEST WITH IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL EXAMINATION OF GASTRIC MUCOSA SPECIMEN IN THE DIAGNOSTICS OF HELICOBACTER PYLORI INFECTION AMONG OUTPATIENTS

Anna Bryczkowska

Departament of Cardiology and Internal Medicine University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland

Tomasz Arłukowicz

Departament of Internal Medicine University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland

Leszek Paweł Gromadziński

Departament of Cardiology and Internal Medicine University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland


Abstract

Helicobacter pylori  infection affects half of the human population. It is the most common infection in the world. Its presence is associated with numerous complications, including gastric cancer. More than 30 years ago, this bacterium was included by the World Health Organisation in the list of class 1 carcinogens, precisely because of its link to gastric cancer (Cho et al. 2021, Lee et al. 2024, Tobi et al. 2023). Its prevalence varies depending on geographical location, and even within a single country, different incidence rates have been reported (Cho et al. 2021, Codolo et al. 2022). Infection most often occurs around the age of 10 and is usually asymptomatic. Therefore, it slowly leads to numerous complications. Relatively few patients experience symptoms associated with this condition and seek medical attention. The diagnostic pathway includes non-invasive and invasive tests, depending on the patient’s age and the presence of worrying symptoms.


Keywords:

Helicobacter pylori,, rapid urease test


Bartnik W., Celińska-Cedro D., Dzieniszewski J., Łaszewicz W., Mach T., Przytulski K., Skrzydło-Radomańska B. 2014. Wytyczne Polskiego Towarzystwa Gastroenterologii dotyczące diagnostyki i leczenia zakażenia Helicobacter pylori. Gastroenterologia Kliniczna. Postępy i Standardy, 6(2): 41–49.   Google Scholar

Buraimoh O. 2023. Assessing bacterial diversity in tropical bovine cow dung through illumina sequencing: Bacterial community in cow dung. Polish Journal of Natural Sciences, 38(3), doi:10.31648/pjns.9004.   Google Scholar

Cho J., Prashar A., Jones N.L., Moss S.F. 2021. Helicobacter pylori infection. Gastroenterol Clin. North Am., 50(2): 261–282, doi:10.1016/j.gtc.2021.02.001.
Crossref   Google Scholar

Choi H.H. 2025. Impact of Helicobacter pylori screening on gastric cancer incidence and mortality. Korean J. Helicobacter Up Gastrointest. Res., 25(2): 198–199. English, doi:10.7704/kjhugr.2025.0003. Epub 2025 Jun 4. PMID: 40550555; PMCID: PMC12173580.
Crossref   Google Scholar

Codolo G., Coletta S., D’Elios M.M., de Bernard M. 2022. HP-NAP of Helicobacter pylori: The Power of the Immunomodulation. Front Immunol., 13: 944139, doi:10.3389/fimmu.2022.944139.
Crossref   Google Scholar

de Brito B.B., da Silva F.A.F., Soares A.S., Pereira V.A., Cordeiro Santos M.L., Sampaio M.M., Moreira Neves P.H., de Melo F.F. 2019. Pathogenesis and clinical management of Helicobacter pylori gastric infection. World J. Gastroenterol., 25(37): 5578–5589, doi:10.3748/wjg.v25.i37.5578.
Crossref   Google Scholar

El-Nasr M.S., Elibiary S.A., Bastawi M.B., Hassan A., Shahin Y., Hassan L., Hamza M.M., Mahfuz M. 2003. Evaluation of a new enzyme immunoassay for the detection of Helicobacter pylori in stool specimens. J. Egypt. Soc. Parasitol., 33(3): 905–915. PMID: 14708861.   Google Scholar

Ferdaus S.J., Haque N., Karim M.R., et al. 2025. Detection of Helicobacter Pylori in gastroduodenal biopsy samples of dyspeptic patients by rapid urease test and polymerase chain reaction in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Bangladesh. Mymensingh Med. J., 34(2): 365–374.   Google Scholar

Fujimori S. 2021. Progress in elucidating the relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and intestinal diseases. World J. Gastroenterol., 27(47): 8040–8046, doi:10.3748/wjg.v27.i47.8040.
Crossref   Google Scholar

Guo X., Schreurs M.W.J., Marijnissen F.E., Mommersteeg M.C., Nieuwenburg S.A.V., Doukas M., Erler N.S., CapellLLe L.G., Bruno M.J., Peppelenbosch M.P., Spaander M.C.W., Gwenny M. Fuhler. 2023 Increased prevalence of autoimmune gastritis in patients with a gastric precancerous lesion. J. Clin. Med., 12(19): 6152, doi:10.3390/jcm12196152.
Crossref   Google Scholar

Horsma-Heikkinen J., Pätäri-Sampo A., Holma T., Nevalainen A., Friberg N., Jarva H., Loginov R., Antikainen J. 2025. Evaluation of five different methods for diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori from fecal samples. APMIS, 133(1): e13483, doi:10.1111/apm.13483.
Crossref   Google Scholar

Hu Y., Zhu Y., Lu N-H. 2017. Noveland effective therapeutic regimens for Helicobacter pylori in an Era ofIncreasing Antibiotic Resistance. Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol., 7:168, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/316745828_Novel_and_Effective_Therapeutic_Regimens_for_Helicobacter_pylori_in_an_Era_of_Increasing_Antibiotic_Resistance, access: 21.10.2025.
Crossref   Google Scholar

Hurkała K., Antonik D., Denys B., Góra K., Zdziennicki W., Zimnicki P., Lato M., Iberszer K., Litwiniuk M., Zaniuk M. 2023. Helicobacter pylori treatment – a review. 2023. Journal of Education, Health and Sport. Online, 38(1): 23–32, access: 15.11.2025, doi:10.12775/JEHS.2023.38.01.002.
Crossref   Google Scholar

Iino C., Shimoyama T. 2021. Impact of Helicobacter pylori infection on gut microbiota. World J. Gastroenterol., 27(37): 6224–6230, doi:10.3748/wjg.v27.i37.6224.
Crossref   Google Scholar

Imperial M., Tan K., Fjell C., Chang Y., Krajden M., M.T., Morshed M. 2024. Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection: serology vs. urea breath test. Microbiol Spectr., 12(11): e0108424, doi:10.1128/spectrum.01084-24.
Crossref   Google Scholar

Kim J.H., Kim J.M., Park B. 2025. The potential role of the rapid urease test with the sweeping method in the gray zone of the urea breath test after Helicobacter pylori eradication. Gut Liver., 19(3): 355–363, doi:10.5009/gnl240470.
Crossref   Google Scholar

Kolli S., Mori A., Weissman S. 2021. Etiological analysis of reactive gastropathy in an urban population. Gastrointest Tumors., 8(3): 115–120, doi:10.1159/000513610.
Crossref   Google Scholar

Lee Y., Chiang T., Chiu H. 2024. Screening for Helicobacter pylori to prevent gastric cancer: A pragmatic randomized clinical trial. JAMA, 332(19): 1642–1651, doi:10.1001/jama.2024.14887
Crossref   Google Scholar

Lee J.Y., Kim N. 2015. Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori by invasive test: histology. Ann. Transl. Med., 3(1): 10, doi:10.3978/j.issn.2305-5839.2014.11.03. PMID: 25705642; PMCID: PMC4293485.   Google Scholar

Liang B., Yuan Y., Peng X.J., Liu X.L., Hu X.K., Xing D.M. 2022. Current and future perspectives for Helicobacter pylori treatment and management: From antibiotics to probiotics. Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol., 12: 1042070, doi:10.3389/fcimb.2022.1042070. PMID: 36506013; PMCID: PMC9732553.
Crossref   Google Scholar

Loharamtaweethong K., Supakatitham C. 2025. Diagnostic performance of immunohistochemistry and rapid urease test in detecting Helicobacter pylori, emphasizing bacterial localization and mucosal changes: a retrospective cross-sectional study. J. Yeungnam Med. Sci., 42: 41, doi:10.12701/jyms.2025.42.41.
Crossref   Google Scholar

Lu M.C., Yang Y.C., Lee C.J., Chiu C.W. 2025. Helicobacter pylori detection based on synergistic electromagnetic and chemical enhancement of surface-enhanced raman scattering in 3D hotspot-activated gold nanorods/nano mica platelets/zno quantum dots. Adv. Sci. (Weinh). Jul;12(28): e2503562, doi:10.1002/advs.202503562. Epub 2025 Apr 23. PMID: 40265978; PMCID: PMC12302607.
Crossref   Google Scholar

Machaj D., Jastrzębska S., Cyboran K., Płaczek A., Flaumenhaft W. 2020. The incidence of infection, diagnosis and treatment of H. pylori in developing countries on the example of Kenya. Journal of Education, Health and Sport. Online, 10(3): 11–17, doi:10.12775/JEHS.2020.10.03.001, access: 15.11.2025.
Crossref   Google Scholar

Majaliwa N.D., Ismail M., Botão E., Carrilho C., Victor R., Dimande L., Machatine S., Mondlane L., Taviani E., Vítor J.M., Vale F.F., Sacarlal J. 2024. Diagnostic performance of biopsy-based methods for determination of Helicobacter pylori infection in dyspeptic Mozambican patients. J. Infect. Dev. Ctries., 18(11): 1702–1708, doi:10.3855/jidc.19518.
Crossref   Google Scholar

Mifahussurur M., Windia A., Syam A.F. 2021. Diagnostic value of 14c urea breath test for Helicobacter pylori detection compared by histopathology in Indonesian dyspeptic patients. Clin. Exp. Gastroenterol., 14: 291–296, doi:10.2147/CEG.S306626.
Crossref   Google Scholar

Morgan D.R., Corral J.E., Li D. 2025. ACG clinical guideline: Diagnosis and management of gastric premalignant conditions. Am. J. Gastroenterol., 120(4): 709–737, doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000003350.
Crossref   Google Scholar

Mujtaba A., Ibrahim M.S., Parveen S., Sarwar N., Alsagaby S.A., Raza M.A., Abdelgawad m.A., Ghoneim M.M., El-Ghorab A.H., Selim S., Al Abdulmonem W., Hussssain M., Fenta Yehuala T. 2025. Comparative analysis of diagnostic techniques for Helicobacter pylori infection: Insights for effective therapy. J. Cell. Mol. Med., 29(6): e70487, doi:10.1111/jcmm.70487.
Crossref   Google Scholar

Parra-Medina R., Zambrano-Betancourt C., Peña-Rojas S., Quintero-Ortiz L., Caro M.V., Romero I., Gil-Gómez J.H., Sprockel J.J., Cancino S., Mosquera-Zamudio A. 2025. Detection of Helicobacter pylori infection in histopathological gastric biopsies using deep learning models. Journal of Imaging, 11(7): 226, doi:10.3390/jimaging11070226.
Crossref   Google Scholar

Sharara A.I., Alsohaibani F.I., Alsaegh A. 2025. First regional consensus on the management of Helicobacter pylori infection in the Middle East. World J. Gastroenterol., 31(27): 107138, doi:10.3748/wjg.v31.i27.107138.
Crossref   Google Scholar

Shukla G.T., Yadav S., Shukla A. 2024. Histopathological features of chronic gastritis and its association with Helicobacter pylori infection. Korean J. Gastroenterol., 84(4): 153–159, doi:10.4166/kjg.2024.063.
Crossref   Google Scholar

Sousa C., Ferreira R., Azevedo N.F.. 2022. Helicobacter pylori infection: from standard to alternative treatment strategies. Crit. Rev. Microbiol., 48(3): 376–396, doi:10.1080/1040841X.2021.1975643.
Crossref   Google Scholar

Sugano K., Spechler S.J., El-Omar E.M. 2022. Kyoto international consensus report on anatomy, pathophysiology and clinical significance of the gastro-oesophageal junction. Gut., 71(8): 1488–1514, doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2022-327281.
Crossref   Google Scholar

Sun M., Liu E., Yang L., Cao H., Han M. 2025. A scoping review of worldwide guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection. Syst Rev., 14(1): 107, doi:10.1186/s13643-025-02816-0. PMID: 40346683; PMCID: PMC12063324.
Crossref   Google Scholar

Szczeklik A., Gajewsk i P. 2022. Interna Szczeklika 2022. Wyd.13. 2022. Wydawnictwo Medycyna Praktyczna, Kraków, pp. 960–962; 1045–1061.   Google Scholar

Tobi M., Weinstein D., Kim M. 2023. Helicobacter pylori status may differentiate two distinct pathways of gastric adenocarcinoma carcinogenesis. Curr. Oncol., 30(9): 7950–7963, doi:10.3390/curroncol30090578.
Crossref   Google Scholar

Umar Z., Tang J.W., Marshall B.J., Tay A.C.Y., Wang L. 2025. Rapid diagnosis and precision treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection in clinical settings. Crit. Rev. Microbiol., 51(2): 369–398, doi:10.1080/1040841X.2024.2364194.
Crossref   Google Scholar

Wronecki J., Tywanek E., Trojanowska P., Skrzydło-Radomańska B., Zwolak A., Łuczyk R. 2020. Expanding the knowledge of Helicobacter pylori – new directions, new challenges. Journal of Education, Health and Sport. Online, 10(9): 770–776, doi:10.12775/JEHS.2020.10.09.093, access: 15.10.2025.
Crossref   Google Scholar

Xie L., Liu G.W., Liu Y.N. 2024. Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in China from 2014–2023: A systematic review and meta-analysis. 2024. World J. Gastroenterol., 30(43): 4636–4656, doi:10.3748/wjg.v30.i43.4636.
Crossref   Google Scholar

Yadav A.I., Jearth V., Sharma A.K., Singh A.K., Chauhan P., Patial P., Sekar A., Shah J., Mandavdhare H., Rana S.S., Dutta U. 2025. Double-site rapid urease test versus histopathology for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori among patients with dyspepsia on proton pump inhibitors - A diagnostic accuracy study. Indian J. Gastroenterol., 12, doi:10.1007/s12664-025-01789-1.
Crossref   Google Scholar

Yu K.Y., Chuang Y.C., Huang T.Y., Chou H. K., Lu Y.T., Cherng J.H., Liu C.C. 2025. Evaluation of the Rapid Urease Test (RUT) device for rapid diagnosis of helicobacter pylori in middle-aged and elderly Taiwanese patients. Microorganisms, 13(4): 767, doi:10.3390/microorganisms13040767.
Crossref   Google Scholar

Download


Published
2025-12-30

Cited by

Anna Bryczkowska, Tomasz Arłukowicz, & Leszek Paweł Gromadziński. (2025). COMPARISON OF RAPID UREASE TEST WITH IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL EXAMINATION OF GASTRIC MUCOSA SPECIMEN IN THE DIAGNOSTICS OF HELICOBACTER PYLORI INFECTION AMONG OUTPATIENTS. Polish Journal of Natural Sciences, 40(3), 181–190. https://doi.org/10.31648/pjns.11956

Anna Bryczkowska 
Departament of Cardiology and Internal Medicine University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland
Tomasz Arłukowicz 
Departament of Internal Medicine University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland
Leszek Paweł Gromadziński  
Departament of Cardiology and Internal Medicine University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland







-->