Does Helicobacter pylori Infection Contribute to the Pathogenesis of Portal Hypertensive Gastropathy? A Cross-Sectional Observational Study at a Tertiary Care Center

Abstract

Background: Portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) is a routine endoscopic finding in patients with portal hypertension. Several pathophysiological mechanisms have been postulated for the same. Infection with Helicobacter pylori is one among them. However, association between them is controversial. The objectives were to detect the presence of H. pylori infection in cirrhosis with PHG and also to correlate the severity of PHG with colonization of H. pylori . Methods: A total of 100 patients diagnosed with PHG were enrolled in the study. Presence of H. pylori was assessed by rapid urease test and histopathological examination. Results were analyzed using frequency tables with cross tabulation, Chi-square test and one sample proportion test. Results: It was observed that 64% of the patients were positive for H. pylori. Relationship of H. pylori with PHG was assessed by one sample proportion test and a statistically significant relationship between them was found. Out of the 64 patients with PHG and H. pylori infection, 44 (68.7%) had severe PHG, while only 14 (44%) out of 36 H. pylori negative patients had severe PHG, reflecting a significant relation between the presence of H. pylori infection and severity of PHG. Conclusion: An increased prevalence of H. pylori infection was established in patients with PHG. Moreover, a direct correlation was found between the presence of H. pylori infection and severity of PHG. Thus, eradication therapy for H. pylori may be beneficial in patients with PHG. Clin Infect Immun. 2018;3(1):16-19 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/cii80e