Panel of serum biomarkers (GastroPanel) in diagnosis of atrophic gastritis and Helicobacter pylori infection: a protocol of systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION: The aetiology of gastric cancer is still unclear but Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection and chronic atrophic gastritis (AG) are recognised as two major risk factors for gastric cancer. GastroPanel (GP) test is the first non-invasive diagnostic tool to detect AG and HP infection. The aim of the study is to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to review published literature about the GP test for diagnosing AG and HP infection, with the objective of estimating the diagnostic performance indices of GP for AG and HP infection. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This protocol of systematic review and meta-analysis is reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols statement guidelines. PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane Library databases will be systematically searched from inception to March 2022 for eligible studies. No language limitations were imposed. The studies will be downloaded into the EndNote V.X9 software and duplicates will be removed. Two review authors independently screened the full text against the inclusion criteria, extracted the data from each included study by using a piloted data extraction form and conducted risk of bias assessment, resolving disagreement by discussion. Results will be synthesised narratively in summary tables, using a random-effect bivariate model, and we fit a hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic curve. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This systematic review will include data extracted form published studies, therefore, does not require ethics approval. The results of this study will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42021282616.