Extragastric Manifestations of Helicobacter Pylori Infection: A Commentary

doi:10.33696/gastroenterology.2.035

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori (Hp) is characterized as a gram-negative bacterium with microaerophilic metabolism, flagellated and helix-shaped that affects approximately 50% of the world population and, in some regions, this rate can exceed 80% [1,2]. Hp infection is well known to infect the epithelial tissue of the stomach, being involved with development of many stomach diseases, including gastric carcinoma

Highlights

Helicobacter pylori (Hp) is characterized as a gram-negative bacterium with microaerophilic metabolism, flagellated and helix-shaped that affects approximately 50% of the world population and, in some regions, this rate can exceed 80% [1,2]
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), as Crohn’s Disease (CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC), may offer a negative relationship with the infection, and some systematic reviews confirm the low prevalence of IBD in Hp positive patients, along with a positive cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA) profile in these cases [8,9]
In this scenario, Hp gastric infection appears as a protective factor, since infected patients have less chance of progressing to CD or UC [10,11] and the severity of the disease can be reduced by the infection [12]

Summary

Introduction

Helicobacter pylori (Hp) is characterized as a gram-negative bacterium with microaerophilic metabolism, flagellated and helix-shaped that affects approximately 50% of the world population and, in some regions, this rate can exceed 80% [1,2]. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), as Crohn’s Disease (CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC), may offer a negative relationship with the infection, and some systematic reviews confirm the low prevalence of IBD in Hp positive patients, along with a positive CagA profile in these cases [8,9] In this scenario, Hp gastric infection appears as a protective factor, since infected patients have less chance of progressing to CD or UC [10,11] and the severity of the disease can be reduced by the infection [12]. The association of Hp infection and iron deficiency anemia, independently of tissue damage and bleeding, has been confirmed [26,27] In this sense, it is recommended that infected patients undergo eradication therapy in cases of iron deficiency anemia, given that a bacterium is capable of using the host’s iron, which decreases its bioavailability.

Dermatological and ophthalmic diseases

Allergic and respiratory diseases

Cardiac and vascular diseases

Endocrine disease

Findings

Conclusion