<i>Helicobacter pylori</i> Seropositivity and Atherosclerosis Risk Factors

Abstract

Certain viral and bacterial infections may contribute to the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study is to determine whether Helicobacter pylori (HP) seropositivity contributes to conventional atherosclerosis risk factors in the development of an early sign of atherosclerosis: intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid artery. Eighty-four patients who had at least two conventional atherosclerosis risk factors and a control group of 50 patients having no risk factors for atherosclerosis were enrolled in the study. None of the patients had ever received HP eradication treatment. HP IgG antibodies were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Carotid artery IMT was measured 1 cm before the carotid bifurcation. Seventy-five percent of the study group was HP seropositive. HP seropositive (n = 64) and seronegative (n = 21) groups were identical in terms of sex distribution, smoking pattern, mean age, hemoglobin, leukocyte, platelet, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure levels. There was no significant difference between the mean carotid IMT of HP seropositive (0.8 ± 0.3 mm) and negative (0.8 ± 0.3 mm) patients in the study group. Similar to the study group, there was no statistically significant difference between mean carotid IMT of HP seropositive (0.56 ± 0.19 mm) and negative patients (0.67 ± 0.13 mm) in the control group (p = 0.2). Future studies concerning virulent strains are needed to determine the probable role of HP in atherosclerosis.

The Correlation and Risk Factors between Carotid Intima-Media Thickening and Alcoholic Liver Disease Coupled with Helicobacter pylori Infection

“…Additionally, attempts at eradicating H. pylori infections might be reducing the emerging burden of CVD in Africa 27 , further supporting the notion that H. pylori may play a role in atherosclerotic processes. However, previous studies have come to opposite conclusions, indicating for example that H. pylori 30 and the CagA strain 30 31 were not major risk factors for early arteriosclerosis when the condition was assessed based on CIMT 30 31 . The data in the present study support the opposite viewpoint.…”

Helicobacter pylori Infection Is Associated With Carotid Intima and Media Thickening: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

“…After the removal of duplicates, 2824 records were left; 106 full‐text articles were assessed for eligibility (Cohen’s kappa coefficient, 0.83), and after the selection process (Cohen’s kappa coefficient, 0.83), 13 studies were included both in qualitative and quantitative synthesis (Figure 1 ). 4 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 Table 1. presents the baseline characteristics of the enrolled studies, and Table S3 provides a further comparison of the H. pylori –positive and –negative groups.…”

“…18 In the case of 4 articles, 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 not only the presence or the absence of H. pylori was examined but also various comorbidities. These were alcoholic liver disease, 20 diabetes, 21 at least 2 risk factors for atherosclerosis (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obesity, diabetes, smoking, female sex, personal history of atherosclerosis, and family history of premature atherosclerosis), 22 or early‐stage diabetic kidney disease. 23 We paired the H. pylori –positive group with the negative one, presenting the same comorbidity.…”

Assessment of the Relationship between Carotid Intima-Media Thickening and Early-Stage Diabetic Kidney Disease Coupled with Helicobacter pylori Infection

“…It has also been reported recently that H. pylori -positive subjects tend to have higher CIMT than H. pylori -negative subjects and H. pylori infection might play an important role in stroke, atherosclerosis, and other cardiovascular diseases [ 29 , 30 ]. However, previous publications had reached opposing conclusions, indicating that H. pylori infection was not a major risk factor for atherosclerosis on the basis of CIMT measurements [ 31 , 32 ]. The data in our study support the opposite viewpoint.…”