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Association of CagA+ Helicobacter pylori infection with aortic atheroma

Haim Shmuely1, Douglas J Passaro, Mordehai Vaturi

  • 1Helicobacter pylori Research Institute, Department of Gastroenterology, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus Petach Tikvah and Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.

Atherosclerosis
|February 22, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Infection with CagA-positive Helicobacter pylori strains is linked to aortic atheroma, independent of other risk factors. This suggests CagA-positive H. pylori may play a role in the inflammatory process of atherosclerosis.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Atherosclerosis is a significant cardiovascular risk.
  • Helicobacter pylori infection is common and linked to various health issues.
  • The role of specific H. pylori virulence factors, like CagA, in atherosclerosis is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between CagA-positive H. pylori infection and aortic atheroma.
  • To determine if CagA status independently predicts aortic atherosclerosis.
  • To explore the potential role of H. pylori in the inflammatory process of atherosclerosis.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective study of 188 subjects diagnosed with aortic atheroma via transesophageal echocardiography.
  • Serum IgG antibodies against H. pylori and CagA protein were measured using ELISA and Western blot.
  • Multivariate analysis adjusted for coronary artery disease risk factors.

Main Results:

  • A linear trend for atheroma presence was observed with CagA-positive H. pylori infection (63%) compared to CagA-negative (46.7%) and uninfected subjects (29%) (p=0.003).
  • CagA-positive H. pylori seropositivity was independently associated with aortic atheroma (OR 4.4; p=0.01) after adjusting for risk factors.
  • Other significant risk factors included older age, smoking, and elevated triglycerides.

Conclusions:

  • Infection with CagA-positive H. pylori strains is independently associated with aortic atherosclerosis.
  • A gradient of atherosclerosis exists between uninfected individuals and those with CagA-positive H. pylori infection.
  • Further research is warranted to elucidate the role of CagA-positive H. pylori in the inflammatory atherosclerotic process.
Abstract

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