Is Helicobacter pylori a Cause of Atrial fibrillation?

Abstract

Inflammation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. C-reactive protein, a sensitive marker of systemic inflammation, has recently been reported to be significantly higher in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) compared with a control group with no history of atrial arrhythmia. Elevated C-reactive protein levels in patients with AF reflects an underlying inflammatory process. Histological anomalies in the atria of patients with AF have also been observed. These anomalies may have an inflammatory basis, although it is not known if any structural changes within the atria are a cause or a consequence of the arrhythmia. Ongoing chronic infection(s) has been suggested as a possible cause of the inflammatory process demonstrated in patients with AF. Helicobacter pylori, a Gram-negative bacterium more commonly known for infecting the gastric mucosa and causing peptic ulcers, is a noncardiac factor that has been controversially reported to be associated with cardiovascular diseases. This article gives a brief overview of AF and specifically explores the recent evidence that suggests that Helicobacter pylori infection causes AF.

Association between atrial fibrillation and Helicobacter pylori

“…However, if further studies confirm that HP is not responsible either for the initiation or the maintenance of AF, in accordance to our findings, the proposed eradication of HP infection as possible treatment for AF patients, proposed by some authors [ 38 ], it would not be even an option for these patients not only for its low cost-effectiveness, but also for the risk to further spread antibiotic resistance.…”

“…This association was believed to be on an inflammatory basis and it has been postulated that the infection might be the substrate of the systemic inflammation manifesting in AF [ 38 ]. Indeed, there is strong evidence to support the influence of inflammation in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation [ 59 ] which is associated with increased levels of markers which reflect an underlying inflammatory process [ 60 ].…”

Helicobacter pylori infection in Chinese patients with atrial fibrillation

“…Some studies showed that chronic Hp infection was involved in AF and it played an important role in the development of AF, 4 – 8 but others demonstrated that Hp infection was not correlated with AF. 9 – 11 However, these studies had relatively small sample sizes, and none of the patients have been classified into different AF-type categories in accordance with the guidelines to further explore the correlation between Hp infection and different types of AF.…”

Quantitative Detection of <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> by Real Time PCR in Drinking Water—Environmental and Public Health Risk Significance

“…This variation seems to be due to the provenance of the strains of H. pylori [9]. Specifically in Costa Rica, it was found that at average heights around 1500 meters above sea level, gastric cancer incidence rates range from 40 to 50 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.…”