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Chronic infection with Helicobacter pylori does not provoke major systemic inflammation in healthy adults: results

H Brenner1, G Berg, M Fröhlich

  • 1Department of Epidemiology, University of Ulm, Helmholtzstrasse 22, D-89081, Ulm, Germany. hermann.brenner@medizin.uni-ulm.de

Atherosclerosis
|November 24, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Chronic Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, even with virulent CagA strains, did not correlate with major systemic inflammation markers like C-reactive protein. However, H. pylori infection showed an inverse relation with serum albumin levels.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Cardiovascular Disease
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Chronic Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is hypothesized to increase coronary heart disease risk via persistent inflammation.
  • Virulent H. pylori strains producing cytotoxin-associated protein (CagA) are of particular interest.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between H. pylori infection serological markers and systemic inflammation.
  • To determine if CagA-positive H. pylori strains are linked to increased inflammation.

Main Methods:

  • Population-based study of 1834 adults (aged 18-88).
  • Assessed serological markers for H. pylori infection (IgG) and CagA status.
  • Measured C-reactive protein, leukocyte count, and serum albumin levels.

Main Results:

  • 39.3% of participants showed positive H. pylori IgG response; a majority of these were CagA positive.
  • H. pylori infection was not associated with C-reactive protein or leukocyte count, irrespective of CagA status.
  • An inverse relationship was observed between H. pylori infection and serum albumin levels.

Conclusions:

  • The study does not support the hypothesis that chronic H. pylori infection, even with virulent strains, causes significant systemic inflammation.
  • The inverse association between H. pylori infection and serum albumin warrants further investigation into its mechanisms and clinical relevance.

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