Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 10, 2026

High Resolution Electron Microscopy of the Helicobacter pylori Cag Type IV Secretion System Pili Produced in Varying Conditions of Iron Availability
09:05

High Resolution Electron Microscopy of the Helicobacter pylori Cag Type IV Secretion System Pili Produced in Varying Conditions of Iron Availability

Published on: November 21, 2014

Association between Helicobacter pylori infection and cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus

Dulciene Maria Magalhães Queiroz1, Andreia Maria Camargos Rocha, Gifone Aguiar Rocha

  • 1Laboratory of Research in Bacteriology, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte. dqueiroz@medicina.ufmg.br

Digestive Diseases and Sciences
|March 15, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with cirrhosis in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV). This finding suggests H. pylori may contribute to liver disease progression in HCV-infected individuals.

Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a leading cause of liver cirrhosis.
  • Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a common bacterial pathogen with known gastrointestinal effects.
  • The potential impact of H. pylori on HCV-related liver disease progression is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between H. pylori infection and the presence of cirrhosis in patients with chronic HCV.
  • To identify risk factors for cirrhosis in this patient cohort.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 106 patients with chronic HCV from Rosario, Argentina, was evaluated.
  • HCV infection was confirmed using ELISA and PCR.
  • H. pylori status was determined by ELISA.
  • Logistic regression models (univariate and multivariate) were used to analyze associations with cirrhosis.

Main Results:

  • H. pylori infection was detected in 70.2% of cirrhotic patients and 47.5% of non-cirrhotic patients.
  • Multivariate analysis revealed that H. pylori infection (OR=2.42) and patient age (OR=1.04) were independently associated with cirrhosis.
  • Cirrhosis was not significantly associated with gender or length of infection.

Conclusions:

  • H. pylori infection is significantly associated with cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus.
  • H. pylori may play a role in the development or progression of liver cirrhosis in HCV-infected individuals.
  • Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms underlying this association.

Related Concept Videos

Cirrhosis II: Pathophysiology01:24

Cirrhosis II: Pathophysiology

Cirrhosis is a progressive chronic liver injury caused by prolonged inflammation, excessive fibrotic remodeling, and impaired regeneration. Over time, repeated hepatic insults disrupt the liver’s architecture and function, leading to reduced blood flow, impaired bile drainage, and diminished metabolic capacity.Pathophysiology of cirrhosisCirrhosis arises from three main responses to chronic liver damage: inflammation, immune activation, and hepatocyte death. These processes lead to structural...
Gastritis II: Pathophysiology01:26

Gastritis II: Pathophysiology

The pathophysiology of gastritis begins with the colonization of the stomach lining by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). This bacterium spreads mainly via the oral-oral route through saliva or shared utensils, and can also be transmitted in overcrowded or unhygienic environments through contaminated water, despite its brief survival outside the body.ColonizationOnce ingested, H. pylori enters the stomach and begins colonization by navigating through the mucus layer lining the stomach wall. It...
Hepatitis01:25

Hepatitis

Hepatitis is an inflammatory condition of the liver most commonly caused by hepatotropic viruses (A–E), though non-infectious causes such as alcohol and drugs also exist.Hepatitis AHepatitis A virus (HAV) is a non-enveloped RNA virus of the Picornaviridae family. It is primarily transmitted via the fecal-oral route, typically through ingestion of contaminated food or water. After ingestion, HAV enters the bloodstream through the oropharynx or intestinal epithelium and reaches the liver. The...
Cirrhosis I: Introduction01:23

Cirrhosis I: Introduction

Cirrhosis is a chronic, irreversible liver disease characterized by the widespread replacement of healthy liver tissue with fibrotic scar tissue and the formation of regenerative nodules.Etiology of cirrhosisCirrhosis results from sustained liver injury that triggers progressive fibrosis and structural remodeling. The underlying causes are diverse, encompassing common and less frequent clinical conditions. Regardless of the origin, all causes lead to chronic inflammation, hepatocyte loss, and...
Peptic Ulcer01:27

Peptic Ulcer

Peptic ulcers are erosive lesions of the gastric or duodenal lining, most commonly caused by Helicobacter pylori infection. This Gram-negative, helical bacterium has adapted to survive the stomach’s acidic environment by producing urease, which converts urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide. The ammonia neutralizes gastric acid in the bacterium’s immediate environment, allowing colonization of the gastric mucosa. H. pylori attaches to mucus-secreting epithelial cells, penetrates the mucus...
Treating Helicobacter pylori in Peptic Ulcers: Antimicrobial Therapy01:16

Treating Helicobacter pylori in Peptic Ulcers: Antimicrobial Therapy

Helicobacter pylori, a resilient gram-negative bacterium, can thrive in the stomach's harsh, acidic environment. Infection with H. pylori leads to a cascade of events within the stomach lining. One of the critical disruptions caused by this bacterium is the interference with somatostatin production, a hormone responsible for regulating acid secretion. This interference tips the balance, escalating acid secretion and diminishing bicarbonate levels. This imbalance compromises the defensive...