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Helicobacter pylori infection and ischaemic heart disease
G Cammarota1, V Pasceri, A Papa
1Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic University, Roma, Italy.
Insights
Helicobacter pylori is a common infection linked to many upper gastrointestinal issues. However, evidence for its role in ischemic heart disease remains inconclusive, despite ongoing research into infection and inflammation.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Helicobacter pylori infection is a widespread cause of upper gastrointestinal conditions, including peptic ulcer disease.
- Emerging research explores links between various infections and ischemic heart disease (IHD).
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the association between Helicobacter pylori infection and ischemic heart disease.
- To synthesize current evidence regarding the potential infectious etiology of IHD.
Main Methods:
- Review of epidemiological studies investigating the relationship between H. pylori and IHD.
- Analysis of studies considering confounding factors in the H. pylori-IHD association.
Main Results:
- Studies on H. pylori and IHD have yielded contradictory results.
- Confounding factor adjustment in some studies altered the observed association.
Conclusions:
- While coronary atherosclerosis is recognized as an inflammatory process, its infectious origin, specifically H. pylori, is not yet definitively established.
- Further research is needed to clarify the role of H. pylori in IHD.
Abstract:
Helicobacter pylori infection is probably one of the most widely spread infectious diseases in man and a growing body of knowledge provides evidence in favour of a causal link between this infection and the majority of upper gastrointestinal conditions. For example, we now know that peptic ulcer disease is an infectious disease; if the infection is diagnosed and treated, ulcer can be cured. On the other hand, in recent years, a number of epidemiological studies have focused on the possible relation between ischaemic heart disease and several infectious disorders, such as chronic dental infections, Cytomegalovirus, Coxsackie viruses, Chlamydia and, finally Helicobacter pylori. The results of studies on the association between ischaemic heart disease and Helicobacter pylori have, in particular, often been contradictory, and only some studies adjusted the results for confounding factors, and the adjustment of the results in some cases modified the association. In conclusion, even if coronary atherosclerosis may now be considered as an inflammatory process, according to several histologic and pathophysiologic studies, we cannot, for the moment, be sure that it is an infectious disease.