[Helicobacter pylori--does it only cause gastroduodenal disease?]

Helicobacter pylori is a human pathogen that can be found all over the world. It is responsible for the following diseases of gastrointestinal tube: gastritis, gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, gastric cancer, gastric lymphomas, Menetier disease. Some research has been done recently trying to identify the connection between H. pylori infection and idiopathic Parkinson's Disease morbidity. Some of them show that people with this neurological disease are more likely to have ulcers and also seropositivity in the direction of H. pylori. The direct influence of H. pylori infection on Parkinson Disease is not known but the following relations are suggested: H. pylori may produce toxins that damage substantia nigra in brain; possible cross reaction of h. pylori antibodies with dopaminergic neurons; indirect influence of antacids containing aluminium used to alleviate the symptoms of ulcers. Investigations of the reasons for idiopathic parkinson disease draw attention to the influence of food factors. Some researches show that there is a relation between the frequency of eating certain foods and the parkinson disease morbidity. We have numerous techniques that allow us to diagnose h. pylori infection. Those techniques have different sensitivity, accuracy, invasiveness and costs, which determines their usefulness in clinical diagnostics. Approach to eradication of bacteria is still discussed because H. pylori infection doesn't always lead to health problems. Polish Working Group on Helicobacter pylori, called by the National Consultant's Team on Gastroenterology explained clearly when eradication is advisable and when it can be waived.