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Helicobacter pylori infection and vascular diseases
A Gasbarrini1, M Serricchio, P Tondi
1Internal Medicine Department, Catholic University of Rome, Italy.
Insights
Helicobacter pylori infection may contribute to vascular disorders like heart disease and Raynaud phenomenon. Eradicating the infection sometimes improves patient symptoms, suggesting a potential link.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Immunology
Background:
- Helicobacter pylori infection is increasingly linked to organic functional vascular disorders.
- Early research (1994) suggested a correlation with ischemic heart disease.
- Emerging evidence implicates H. pylori in primary headache and Raynaud phenomenon.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the association between Helicobacter pylori infection and functional vascular disorders.
- To explore the potential role of the host immune response in pathogenesis.
- To identify the need for further rigorous research.
Main Methods:
- Review of observational and interventional studies.
- Analysis of patient data on symptom improvement after H. pylori eradication.
- Consideration of confounding factors in study design.
Main Results:
- Some patients experience symptom improvement after H. pylori eradication.
- The host immune response, involving cytokines and prostaglandins, may be a key factor.
- Confounding factors like co-infections and host genetics can influence outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Helicobacter pylori infection is a potential contributing factor in certain vascular disorders.
- Further well-designed case/control and randomized interventional studies are necessary.
- Clarifying the precise role of H. pylori requires addressing confounding variables.
Abstract:
Helicobacter pylori infection has recently been associated to some organic functional vascular disorders and, both observational and interventional studies have been carried out. A correlation between Helicobacter pylori infection and ischaemic heart disease was first described in 1994. Recent data, moreover, indicate a role of the bacterium in some functional vascular disorders such as primary headache and primary Raynaud phenomenon; indeed, some patients following eradication of Helicobacter pylori showed a significant improvement in the manifestations of these diseases. The host immune response against the bacterium may play an important role in the pathogenesis of vascular disorders, probably through a chronic stimulation of the release of vasoactive substances, such as cytokines, prostaglandins and others. However, various confounding factors such as co-infections, genetic and immunological host-factors, different strains of Helicobacter pylori or other may influence the data. Well designed case/control and randomized interventional studies are still needed to assess the real role of Helicobacter pylori in vascular disorders.