Association between Helicobacter pylori infection and allergic diseases

Abstract

Objective The association between Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori) infection and allergic diseases was controversial.The aim of this study was to investigate the association between H. pylori infection and allergic diseases. Methods A questionnaire survey regarding the general health condition and allergic diseases was carried out in patients who had taken gastroscopy at People’s Hospital of Peking University from September 2015 to April 2016.H.pylori infection was detected by the H. pylori antibody, rapid urease test and gastric mucosa pathology. Results There were 1 034 patients were enrolled in this study.The rate of H. pylori infection was 20.5%(212/1 034). The frequencies of contact dermatitis, urticaria, food/drug allergy, allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma were 6.9%(71/1 034), 15.5%(160/1 034), 18.0%(186/1 034), 20.8%(215/1 034) and 3.4%(35/1 034), respectively.The rate of the food/drug allergy was significantly lower in the H. pylori-positive group than in the H. pylori-negative group(11.8 %(25/212) vs.19.6%(161/822), χ2=6.940, P=0.008). The risk of food/drug allergy in H. pylori-positive group was 0.611(95% CI: 0.386-0.966, P=0.035) in the multivariate analysis.When the patients were divided into age-dependent groups, the rate of the food/drug allergy was significantly lower in the H. pylori-positive group than in the H. pylori-negative group(10.9 %(11/101) vs.20.6%(101/490), χ2=5.152, P=0.023) in those patients ≥50 years old.There were not statistically significant differences on contact dermatitis, urticaria, eczema, asthma and allergic rhinitis between helicobacter pylori positive group and negative group(P>0.05). Conclusion H. pylori infection may be a protective factor in food/drug allergy and the protective effect enhanced by infection time. Key words: Helicobacter pylori; Allergy; Age