Abstract
BackgroundSubjects with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency may be more susceptible to infections due to impaired leukocyte bactericidal activity. The disorder is common in the Mediterranean area. The aim of this study was to investigate whether G6PD deficiency may be a risk factor for acquiring H. pylori infection.MethodsWe performed a retrospective study. Data from clinical records of 6565 patients (2278 men and 4287 women, median age 51, range 7‒94) who underwent upper endoscopy between 2002 and 2014 were collected. H. pylori status, assessed by histology plus rapid urease test or 13C-urea breath test, and G6PD status were also reported. A multiple logistic regression model was used to investigate the association between G6PD deficiency and H. pylori infection.ResultsEnzyme deficiency was detected in 12% (789/6565) of the entire cohort, and more specifically in 8.3% of men and in 14.0% of women. Overall, the proportion of patients positive for H. pylori was 50.6% and 51.5% among G6PD deficient and non-deficient patients (χ² = 0.271; p = 0.315). Moreover, among G6PD-deficient and normal patients the frequency of previous H. pylori infection was similar. After adjustment for age and gender the risk for acquiring H. pylori infection was similar in G6PD-deficient and normal patients. Only age was a strong statistically significant risk predictor.ConclusionsThese results demonstrate for the first time that G6PD deficiency does not enhance patients’ susceptibility to acquire H. pylori infection in Sardinia.
Highlights
Helicobacter pylori infection affects more than 50% of the world population and is associated with various disorders of the proximal gastro-intestinal tract such as chronic gastritis and duodenal ulcers, gastric adenocarcinoma and gastric lymphoma [1]
After adjustment for age and gender the risk for acquiring H. pylori infection was similar in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)-deficient and normal patients
These results demonstrate for the first time that G6PD deficiency does not enhance patients’ susceptibility to acquire H. pylori infection in Sardinia
Summary
Helicobacter pylori infection affects more than 50% of the world population and is associated with various disorders of the proximal gastro-intestinal tract such as chronic gastritis and duodenal ulcers, gastric adenocarcinoma and gastric lymphoma [1]. Gastric colonization by the microorganism is influenced by host defences including reactivity of immune cells [6], and efficiency of mechanisms against oxidative challenge [7, 8] Some of these conditions have been investigated in detail, a number of them remained largely unexplored. Carriers of the G6PD deficient allele appear to have a selective advantage against malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum [12]. For this reason, in areas of the world where malaria is endemic, the frequency of G6PD deficiency could be considerably increased. The aim of this study was to investigate whether G6PD deficiency may be a risk factor for acquiring H. pylori infection
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