Seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori in South Sweden and Iceland

Background: Seroepidemiologic studies on the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection have been reported from several European countries but not from Sweden or Iceland. Methods: Serum samples were collected from 443 persons in Sweden and 387 persons in Iceland. All the 830 sera were tested with the same enzyme immunoassay test with an acid glycine extract of H. pylori surface proteins as antigen. Results: The antibody levels were low in the young age groups in both Sweden and Iceland, with increasing levels with age. Conclusions: The results are consistent with previous studies from other comparable countries, but with important differences. The prevalence was lower in Sweden than in other, previously studied, Western European countries, but, on the other hand, the prevalence was slightly higher in Iceland.