IgA antibodies to herpes simplex virus type 1 in duodenal juice and saliva from patients with peptic ulcer and non-ulcer controls.

Fasting duodenal juice and saliva were obtained from 26 peptic ulcer patients and 28 controls. IgA antibodies to herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) were measured by the indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Total IgA in the samples was measured by the double-sandwich ELISA. The median and interquartile range of anti HSV-1 IgA titres in saliva were 8 (4-12) and 4 (1-8) in ulcer patients and controls, respectively (p less than 0.02). Comparative values in duodenal juice were 12 (2-16) and 4 (0-6) (p less than 0.002). The concentration of total IgA was not higher in ulcer patients than in controls, and no correlation existed between total IgA and anti HSV-1 titres. The results add further evidence that HSV type 1 is involved in the pathogenesis of peptic ulceration.