Helicobacter Pylori Seroprevalence Research Articles

Relationship Between Helicobacter pylori IgG Seroprevalence and the Immune Response to Poliovirus Vaccine Among School-Age Children From a Population With Near-Universal Immunity Level.

ObjectivesTo examine the association between Helicobacter pylori seroprevalence and serum pepsinogens (PGs) as markers of gastric inflammation), with high neutralizing antibody titers to poliovirus type 1 and 3 vaccine strains among children age 3–4 years, subsequent to sub-clinical infection acquired during a wild-type poliovirus type 1 outbreak in Israel.MethodsA serosurvey was conducted among 336 children aged 5–17 years who were vaccinated with both inactivated polio vaccine and oral polio vaccines. H. pylori serum IgG antibodies and PG concentrations were measured using ELISA. Neutralizing antibodies to poliovirus vaccine strains were measured and children with a titer ≥1:8 were considered immune. High-level immunity was defined as having a serum NA titer >1:2048. Propensity score inverse weighting was used to account for confounders.ResultsNeutralizing antibodies titers ≥1:8 to poliovirus type 1 and 3 vaccine strains were found in 99.4 and 98.2% of the children, respectively. An inverse association was found between H. pylori seropositivity accompanied by PGI:PGII ratio ≤6.5 (marker of gastric inflammation) and high-level immunity to poliovirus type 1: OR 0.39 (95% CI 0.68–0.91), p = 0.027. The association between H. pylori seropositivity of CagA virulent phenotype and polio high immunity was not significant. The association between H. pylori seropositivity and high neutralizing antibodies to type 3 poliovirus was of low magnitude and not significant.ConclusionsH. pylori seroprevalence accompanied by evidence of gastric inflammation was inversely correlated with high titers of neutralizing antibodies to poliovirus in children from a population with near universal polio immunity.

Protective effect of oral contraceptive against Helicobacter pylori infection in US adult females: NHANES 1999-2000.

Recently, the antibacterial properties of oestrogen and progestogen were discovered. The aim of this study was to find the cross-sectional association between oral contraceptive use and Helicobacter pylori seroprevalence. Data were obtained from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The H. pylori immunoglobulin G (IgG) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to categorise participants as seropositive or seronegative. The study population included 799 female participants who had information on H. pylori seroprevalence and all other covariates and had not been taking any medications (except oral contraceptives). The bivariate Rao-Scott chi-square test indicated a significant association between H. pylori seroprevalence and contraceptive use (P < 0.01). The variables of race, education, poverty income ratio, smoking, and blood lead and cadmium levels were also significantly associated with H. pylori seroprevalence (P < 0.01). Multiple logistic regression analysis of the age-adjusted model revealed that contraceptive users are 65% less likely of being H. pylori seropositive as compared to non-contraceptive users (odds ratio (OR): 0.35, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.18-0.68). This association is stronger with the final multivariate model (OR: 0.46, 95% CI: 0.23-0.89). Conclusions: This finding reveals the potential protective effect of oral contraceptives against H. pylori infection and serves as a foundation study for further investigations.

Helicobacter pylori seroprevalence in six different ethnic groups living in Amsterdam: The HELIUS study.

Helicobacter pylori prevalence varies greatly worldwide. We explored the prevalence of H. pylori and CagA seropositivity among adults aged 18-44years living in the Netherlands by ethnicity and migration status (first vs second generation). Participants from six different ethnic groups were selected from the population-based multi-ethnic HELIUS study in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Serum samples were tested for H. pylori antigens using a validated Luminex-based multiplex serology assay. Prevalence ratios were estimated using Poisson regression analysis. A total of 4683 participants aged 18-44years were randomly selected based on sex, ethnicity, and age. H. pylori seroprevalence was highest in the Ghanaian group (84%), followed by Moroccan (81%), Turkish (66%), African Surinamese (51%), South-Asian Surinamese (48%), and Dutch (17%) participants. All ethnic minority groups had a significantly higher risk of being H. pylori seropositive compared to the Dutch group. This association was strongest among participants born outside the Netherlands (first generation), but was still significant and apparent among second-generation participants. Among first-generation participants, all groups, except the Moroccans, had a significantly higher proportion of individuals with a cagA+H. pylori strain compared to the Dutch participants. Helicobacter pylori seroprevalence among first-generation migrants is high in the Netherlands and remains elevated among second-generation migrants (ie, those born in the Netherlands). High exposure to H. pylori, and especially to the more virulent cagA+ strain, highlights the need for tailored prevention of gastric diseases (notably peptic ulcers and cancers) among migrants.

Clostridium difficile-associated disease and Helicobacter pylori seroprevalence: A case-control study.

Helicobacter pylori inhabits the stomach and causes persistent inflammation, with changes in gastric acidity. However, it is unclear whether the presence of Hpylori plays a role in Clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD). The study's aim was to examine relationships of Hpylori seroprevalence and serum pepsinogens (PGs), as markers of gastric inflammation, with CDAD. A case-control study was conducted among 49 CDAD cases and 54 controls (median age 82years). Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, sera were tested for Hpylori IgG antibody, and PGI and PGII levels. Helicobacter pylori-positive samples were tested for IgG antibody to recombinant cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA) virulent protein. Logistic regression models were fitted. Cases and controls were comparable in age (P=.5) and sex distribution (females 62% vs 57%, P=.6). Helicobacter pylori IgG seroprevalence was 47%, of whom 23% were CagA seropositives. Among cases compared to controls, 43% vs 28% were Hpylori seropositive but lacking CagA IgG antibody: adjusted odd ratio (OR) 3.43 (95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.29-9.10); 18% vs 4% were positive for CagA phenotype: adjusted OR 9.32 (95% CI 1.61-53.76). This association was not affected by PG levels. Helicobacter pylori infection, especially with CagA virulent phenotype, might predispose to Cdifficile infection in elderly patients.

Helicobacter pylori seroprevalence in Spain: influence of adult and childhood sociodemographic factors.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) chronic infection causes severe digestive diseases, including gastric cancer, and certain strains entail a higher risk. Risk factors for this infection are still not fully understood. The aim of this study was to describe the association of adult and childhood sociodemographic factors with the seroprevalence of H. pylori, and with CagA and VacA antigen-specific seropositivity among H. pylori-seropositive individuals in the Spanish adult population. Serum antibody reactivity to H. pylori proteins was evaluated using multiplex serology in 2555 population-based controls enrolled in the MCC-Spain study, a multicase-control study recruiting participants from 2008 to 2013 in different areas of Spain. H. pylori seroprevalence was defined as seropositivity against at least four bacterial proteins. Information on sociodemographics, lifestyles, and environmental exposures was collected through personal interviews. Prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated using Poisson regression models to assess the association of lifetime sociodemographic factors with H. pylori seroprevalence and with seropositivity for CagA and VacA. H. pylori seroprevalence was 87.2%. Seropositivity was statistically significantly higher in men, increased with age, BMI, and number of siblings, and decreased with education and socioeconomic family level at birth. Among H. pylori-seropositive individuals, seropositivity was 53.3% for CagA, 61.4% for VacA, and 38.8% for both CagA and VacA. Ever smokers had lower seroprevalence for CagA and VacA than never smokers. H. pylori seroprevalence among this Spanish adult population was high and one third of the population was seropositive for two well-known markers of gastric cancer risk: CagA and VacA. Sex, age, education, and BMI were associated with H. pylori seroprevalence.

Seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori in Korea: A multicenter, nationwide study conducted in 2015 and 2016.

BackgroundThe Korean College of Helicobacter and Upper Gastrointestinal Research has studied Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) prevalence since 1998 and found a dynamic change in its prevalence in Korea. The aim of this study was to determine the recent H. pylori prevalence rate and compare it with that of previous studies according to socioeconomic variables.MethodsWe planned to enroll 4920 asymptomatic Korean adults from 21 centers according to the population distribution of seven geographic areas (Seoul, Gyeonggi, Gangwon, Chungcheong, Kyungsang, Cholla, and Jeju). We centrally collected serum and tested H. pylori serum IgG using a chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay.ResultsWe analyzed 4917 samples (4917/4920 = 99.9%) from January 2015 to December 2016. After excluding equivocal serologic results, the H. pylori seropositivity rate was 51.0% (2414/4734). We verified a decrease in H. pylori seroprevalence compared with previous studies performed in 1998, 2005, and 2011 (P < .0001). The H. pylori seroprevalence rate differed by area: Cholla (59.5%), Chungcheong (59.2%), Kyungsang (55.1%), Jeju (54.4%), Gangwon (49.1%), Seoul (47.4%), and Gyeonggi (44.6%). The rate was higher in those older than 40 years (38.1% in those aged 30‐39 years and 57.7% in those aged 40‐49 years) and was lower in city residents than in noncity residents at all ages.Conclusions Helicobacter pylori seroprevalence in Korea is decreasing and may vary according to population characteristics. This trend should be considered to inform H. pylori‐related policies.

Seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori in Hispanics living in Puerto Rico: A population-based study.

Background Helicobacter pylori is an important etiologic factor for peptic ulcers and gastric cancer, one of the top ten leading causes of cancer death in Puerto Rico. However, the prevalence of H. pylori infections in this population was previously unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the seroprevalence of H. pylori and its associated risk factors in Puerto Rico.Materials and MethodsA cross‐sectional study was designed using an existing population‐based biorepository. Seropositivity was determined using the Premier™ H. pylori immunoassay. Helicobacter pylori seroprevalence was estimated with 95% confidence using marginal standardization following logistic regression. To assess the risk factors associated with H. pylori seropositivity, a multivariable log‐binomial model was fitted to estimate the prevalence ratio (PR) and its 95% confidence interval (95% CI).ResultsA total of 528 population‐based serum samples were analyzed. The mean age of the study population was 41 ± 12 years, of whom 55.3% were females. The overall seroprevalence of H. pylori was 33.0% (95% CI = 28.3%‐38.1%). Increasing age and having <12 years of education were significantly (P < .05) associated with H. pylori seropositivity in the multivariable model; however, residing in counties with low population density reached marginal significance (P = .085).ConclusionsWe report that H. pylori infection is common among Hispanics living in Puerto Rico. The H. pylori seroprevalence observed in Puerto Rico is similar to the seroprevalence reported in the overall population of the United States. The association between H. pylori seroprevalence and the risk factors analyzed offers insight into the epidemiology of gastric cancer in Puerto Rico and warrants further investigation.

Helicobacter pylori Seropositivity and Childhood Neurodevelopment, the Rhea Birth Cohort in Crete, Greece.

Limited evidence exists on the association between exposure to Helicobacter pylori infection early in life, including fetal life, and neurodevelopment in childhood. We used prospective data on 352 mother-child pairs and cross-sectional data on 674 children to assess the association of maternal and child's H. pylori seropositivity correspondingly on child's neurodevelopment at age four in the Rhea birth cohort in Crete, Greece. Blood levels of immunoglobulin G antibodies to 12 H. pylori proteins were measured using multiplex serology. Child's neurodevelopment at age four was assessed using the McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities. Linear regression models were used to explore the associations after adjusting for potential confounders. Helicobacter pylori seroprevalence (95% CI) in cord blood, representing maternal status, was 41.5% (36.3%, 46.8%) and in 4 years old children was 6.5% (95% CI 4.8%, 8.7%). Children of H. pylori seropositive mothers had lower score in the general cognitive (-3.87, 95% CI -7.02, -0.72), verbal (-2.96, 95% CI -6.08, 0.15), perceptual performance (-3.37, 95% CI -6.60, -0.15), quantitative (-2.85, 95% CI -6.28, 0.58), and memory scale (-3.37, 95% CI -6.67, -0.07) compared to those of seronegative mothers. Seropositivity in cord blood specifically to GroEl and NapA - two of the 12 H. pylori proteins investigated - was associated with lower scores in almost all scales. At age four, H. pylori seropositive children performed worst in neurodevelopment assessment compared to their seronegative counterparts although no association reached statistically significant level. Helicobacter pylori infection in early life may be an important but preventable risk factor for poor neurodevelopment.

Helicobacter pylori seroprevalence in children with sleep-disordered breathing

ObjectiveChronic Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection is considered to be a factor involved in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). This cross-sectional study examined the seroprevalence of HP in children with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in respect to OSAS severity and in reference to other common pediatric medical conditions. MethodsOvernight polysomnography with pH-metry (PSG) was performed at a Sleep Laboratory (in the years 2008–2011). OSAS severity was determined based on Obstructive Apnea Index (OAI). Subjects were classified into primary snoring group (OAI < 1/hours), mild - moderate OSAS (OAI: 1–5/hour), and severe OSAS (OAI: ≥5/hour). HP IgG was tested by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the SDB (n = 115) and reference (n = 387) groups [reference group consisted of 4 subgroups based on ICD-10 diagnoses encompassing conditions affecting the skin, respiratory system, food hypersensitivity, and gastrointestinal tract]. Analyses were performed by nonparametric statistical tests. ResultsHP seropositivity was 10.4% (12/115) in the SDB group and 11.6% (45/387) in the reference group. HP positive and negative subjects did not differ in PSG, acid gastro-esophageal reflux index nor in age, sex, nutritional status (BMI-z score), and hematological indices in the SDB group. Seropositivity was found in 16.7% of the primary snoring group, 10.2% of mild-moderate OSAS, and in 11.1% of severe OSAS (chi2 p = 0.832). ConclusionsChildren with SDB are not more predisposed to a chronic HP infection than children with other common chronic pediatric conditions. HP seropositivity does not influence OSAS severity but possible infection should none-the-less be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Environmental risk factors associated with Helicobacter pylori seroprevalence in the United States: a cross-sectional analysis of NHANES data.

Helicobacter pylori imparts a considerable burden to public health. Infections are mainly acquired in childhood and can lead to chronic diseases, including gastric ulcers and cancer. The bacterium subsists in water, but the environment's role in transmission remains poorly understood. The nationally representative National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) was examined for environmental risk factors associated with H. pylori seroprevalence. Data from 1999-2000 were examined and weighted to represent the US population. Multivariable logistic regression estimated adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for associations with seropositivity. Self-reported general health condition was inversely associated with seropositivity. Of participants aged <20 years, seropositivity was significantly associated with having a well as the source of home tap water (aOR 1·7, 95% CI 1·1-2·6) and living in a more crowded home (aOR 2·3, 95% CI 1·5-3·7). Of adults aged ⩾20 years, seropositivity was not associated with well water or crowded living conditions, but adults in soil-related occupations had significantly higher odds of seropositivity compared to those in non-soil-related occupations (aOR 1·9, 95% CI 1·2-2·9). Exposures to both well water and occupationally related soil increased the effect size of adults' odds of seropositivity compared to non-exposed adults (aOR 2·7, 95% CI 1·3-5·6). Environmental exposures (well-water usage and occupational contact with soil) play a role in H. pylori transmission. A disproportionate burden of infection is associated with poor health and crowded living conditions, but risks vary by age and race/ethnicity. These findings could help inform interventions to reduce the burden of infections in the United States.

Helicobacter pylori seropositivity in England, 2001-2007: time trends and the effect of ethnicity

Background: Helicobacter pylori (HP) prevalence is decreasing in developed countries. Widespread adoption of the 'test and treat' strategy for dyspepsia (2002) may have contributed to this decline. Methods: Time trends in the proportion of positive HP serology results in our institution, covering an ethnically diverse area in London, were analysed between 2001 and 2007. The effect of age, gender and ethnicity was assessed. Results: 12307 tests were carried out between 2001 and 2007 in 11484 consecutive patients. There was a statistically significant reduction in the proportion of positive tests over the study period from 42.8% to 37.6% (p<0.001). HP seroprevalence was higher in older individuals (p<0.001), in men (p=0.001) and in patients of Indian subcontinent descent (p<0.001). There was a fall in the proportion of positive tests to HP over time for both genders and ethnic groups and among patients over age 30. The proportion of positive tests to HP remained unchanged for younger individuals. Conclusion: The proportion of positive HP serology in our institution decreased over a seven-year period. HP infection was more prevalent in older patients. A significant proportion of younger subjects had positive HP serology but the seroprevalence of HP infection amongst subjects aged under 30 remained unchanged.

Helicobacter pylori sero-prevalence in different liver diseases

This study was carried out to investigate the seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with different liver diseases and determine the association and correlation between the seroprevalence of H. pylori infection and the liver diseases. The presence of a H. pylori antigen was investigated in serum samples from 274 individuals with liver diseases as well as 120 healthy individuals. H. pylori antigen was detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot based on specific anti-H. pylori antibody. The result was analyzed using the chi-square test. H. pylori was detected in sera samples of 31.7% (20/63) (X2 = 3.7) of non-cirrhotic, 50% (11/22) (X2 = 3.9) of cirrhotic and 56.1% (106/189) (X2 = 5.2) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) individuals, compared to 8.4% (10/120) of healthy individuals. The levels of H. pyloriantigen were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in sera of different stages of liver diseases compared by healthy individuals. We found a good correlation between H. pylori antigen levels and the severity of the liver diseases (Pathology) (r = 0.368, p < 0.001). Also, there is a correlation between age and H. pylori antigen levels (r = 0.25, p < 0.001). H. pylori infection is correlated with occurrence and development of different stages of liver diseases. Key words: liver diseases, Helicobacter pylori.

Abstract A84: Race, neighborhood socioeconomic characteristics, and Helicobacter pylori seroprevalence

Abstract Background: Recently, very high Helicobacter pylori sero-prevalence rates were found among African Americans, especially those of higher percentage of African ancestry, residing in the southeastern US. We sought to determine if neighborhood-level socio-economic characteristics, above and beyond individual-level socio-economic characteristics, are associated with Helicobacter pylori prevalence, and, if so, if this helps to explain the strong association with African ancestry. Methods: Antibodies to Helicobacter pylori proteins were assessed in the serum of 665 African American and white participants from the Southern Community Cohort Study. African and European admixture was estimated using a panel of 276 ancestry genetic markers. Prevalence odds ratios for CagA-specific Helicobacter pylori status associated with10 block-level measures of socio-economic status, obtained from linkage to the US Census, were calculated using polytomous logistic regression. Results: After adjusting for individual-level socio-economic characteristics, three neighborhood-level characteristics were significantly inversely related to CagA+ Helicobacter pylori sero-positivity: percent adults completed high school; median value of owner-occupied houses; and percent employed (comparing highest tertile to lowest tertile, OR=0.47, 95%CI: 0.26–0.85; OR=0.56, 95% CI: 0.32–0.99; and OR=0.59, 95% CI: 0.34–1.03, respectively). However, inclusion of these neighborhood-level measures did not attenuate the association of African ancestry and CagA+ Helicobacter pylori sero-prevalence, with African Americans of low, medium, and high African ancestry maintaining 2-, 7-, and 9-fold increased odds compared to whites. Neighborhood levels of education, house values, and employment are associated with sero-prevalence to CagA+Helicobacter pylori, highlighting high-risk areas for prevention and screening efforts, but the strong relationship between African ancestry level and CagA+ Helicobacter pylori sero-prevalence persisted after adjustment for individual and neighborhood-level socio-economic characteristics, suggesting a biological basis for this association. Citation Information: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2011;20(10 Suppl):A84.

Comment and reply on “Helicobacter pylori seroprevalence in patients with chronic prostatitis: A pilot study”

Comment and reply on “<i>Helicobacter pylori</i> seroprevalence in patients with chronic prostatitis: A pilot study”

Helicobacter pylori infection in children: population‐based age‐specific prevalence and risk factors in a developing country

We estimated the prevalence, age of acquisition and risk factors for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) seroprevalence in children aged 1-15 years. Exposure was assessed using ELISA. Parents responded to a questionnaire regarding number of individuals sharing house, rooms, water source, latrines, housing and assessment of socioeconomic status (SES) by Hollingshead Index. Serum of 1976 children was tested. Helicobacter pylori seropositivity in children aged 11-15 years was 53.5% (OR: 2.0, 95% CI: 1.58-2.5). It increased with moderate crowding index (CRI) of 2-4 to 45.9% (OR: 1.23, 95% CI: 0.92-1.63) and to 51.2% with CRI >4 (OR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.12-2.06). In middle SES, seropositivity was 50.5% (331/655) (OR: 1.7, 95% CI: 1.29-2.35), whereas in lower SES, it was 47.1% (500/1062) (OR: 1.5, 95% CI: 1.1-2.0). Multivariate analysis showed that Helicobacter pylori seroprevalence was high in children aged 6-10 and 11-15 years (OR: 1.5, 95% CI: 1.2-1.9 and OR: 1.9, 95% CI: 1.56-2.47 respectively), in lower-middle SES (OR: 1.6, 95% CI: 1.2-2.1 and OR: 1.5, 95% CI: 1.10-2.0 respectively) and in uneducated fathers (OR: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.27-1.95). Helicobacter pylori seropositivity increases with age, in low-middle SES and is related to father's educational status. Reducing H. pylori seroprevalence will require improvement in sanitary conditions and educational status of the population.

Helicobacter pylori Seroprevalence in Selected Groups of Albanian Volunteers

Albania is a Mediterranean, South-East European developing country where epidemiological data on infectious diseases are scarce. In this study, the seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in 1,088 Albanian healthy volunteers (472 females followed-up to a prenatal clinic, 173 recruits, 443 health care workers) was evaluated. Sera were tested for immunoglobulin-G (IgG) antibodies against H. pylori using a quantitative enzyme immunosorbent assay. The overall H. pylori seroprevalence was 70.7%. The H. pylori seroprevalence increased by age, from 60.4% in individuals younger than 20 years to 81% among those > or = 50 years of age with a significant trend of increase by age. The overall seroprevalence was 73.9% for females and 59.5% for males. In addition the seroprevalence was 55.3% for people living in rural areas and 72.3% for people living in urban areas. No significant differences were found according to level of education except for individuals with elementary level of education. Nurses and hospital auxiliaries have significantly higher H. pylori seroprevalence when compared to other health care workers (physicians and office workers). When each variable (age, gender, area of residence, occupation, and education level) was adjusted for the confounding effect of the other variables by stepwise logistic analysis, we observed that age greater than 40 years and female gender remain the only variables independently associated with the presence of H. pylori IgG antibodies. H. pylori is highly prevalent among the Albanian population. Improving living conditions, education in hygiene, and the supply of running water are measures to prevent the transmission of H. pylori infection and other infections spread by the fecal-oral route in Albania.

Helicobacter pylori Seroprevalence in Amerindians from Isolated Locations

Helicobacter pylori seems universally distributed in all human populations, with high prevalence in the third world. Because H. pylori is an ancestral indigenous microbe of the human stomach, we hypothesized that its prevalence in isolated Amerindians would be high. A serologic study was performed on 19 Guahibo-Piaroa and 17 Warao in Venezuela, using H. pylori whole cell (WC) and CagA antigens from US strains. For Guahibo-Piaroa Amerindians, CagA seropositivity was 95%, but WC seropositivity was only 74%. For Warao, both CagA and WC seropositive proportions were low (65% and 76%, respectively). Because all CagA-seropositive individuals carry H. pylori, the results suggest that there has been bacterial antigen divergence, probably caused by genetic drift/natural selection, on humans and their microbes in isolated human groups.

Seroprevalence ofHelicobacter pyloriinfection in patients with chronic nonspecific pharyngitis: preliminary study

Chronic nonspecific pharyngitis is a chronic inflammation of the pharynx. It is found worldwide, and treatment is difficult. The underlying aetiopathogenesis is still controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate Helicobacter pylori seroprevalence in chronic nonspecific pharyngitis patients without other possible causative factors for chronic pharyngeal irritation and without H. pylori gastric mucosal infection. Forty-one patients with symptoms of chronic nonspecific pharyngitis and 30 healthy control subjects were enrolled in this prospective, controlled, clinical study. In both study and control groups, selected patients were shown to have gastric mucosa uninfected by H. pylori, as demonstrated by the 14C-urea breath test. Comprehensive otorhinolaryngological examination did not elicit any factor contributing to the chronic pharyngeal complaint. Serum H. pylori immunoglobulin G antibody titres were assayed using serum enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The difference between the study and control groups was analysed by the chi-square test (the likelihood ratio was used). Thirty-two of the 41 patients (78 per cent) and 14 of the 30 control subjects (46.7 per cent) were found to be H. pylori positive. Patients with chronic nonspecific pharyngitis were found to have a significantly higher rate of H. pylori seropositivity than the control group (p = 0.016). These data may be important in developing future treatment strategies for chronic nonspecific pharyngitis.

Helicobacter pylori seroprevalence in coronary artery disease

Background: Helicobacter (H.) pylori infection is a well-established cause of chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. However, there is growing evidence that chronic inflammatory response to this pathogen may also play an important role in coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of this study was to investigate the difference in seroprevalence of H. pylori infection in a control group compared to a group of patients with electrocardiographic evidence of CAD.

Helicobacter pylori Seroprevalence in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Its Relation to Pulmonary Function Tests

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a slowly progressive condition characterized by poorly reversible airflow limitation that is associated with an abnormal inflammatory response of the lung. It has been shown that there is a seroepidemiological association of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection with many inflammatory conditions. Objective: In this study, we aimed to investigate seroprevalence in Hp patients with COPD and to determine whether there is an association between Hp infection and COPD. Methods: Forty-nine voluntary patients with COPD and 50 healthy control subjects of similar age and sex were included in the study. Hp-specific IgG was measured with a commercially available kit from venous blood samples. Results: Serum levels of Hp-specific IgG and Hp IgG seropositivity were significantly higher in the patients with COPD than in the control subjects (p < 0.001 and p = 0.006, respectively). In addition, when the patients with COPD were grouped according to Hp IgG seropositivity, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV₁) values were lower in the seropositive patients compared to seronegative patients, and Hp serum IgG levels were correlated with FEV₁ values, which indicate the severity of COPD, in the COPD group (r = –0.306, p = 0.032). Conclusion: The results suggest that there is an association between Hp infection and COPD, and Hp IgG levels are correlated with the severity of COPD.