Association of Helicobacter pylori infection with acute myocardial infarction
Zohreh Khodaii1, Hosain Vakili, Sayyed Mohammad Hossein Ghaderian
1Departments of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Modarress Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Tehran, Iran.
Insights
Helicobacter pylori infection is more common in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This bacterium, particularly virulent strains, may contribute to AMI through inflammation, as indicated by elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Immunology
Background:
- Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVD).
- Inflammation plays a key role in the development of CVD.
- Previous studies suggest a link between H. pylori and inflammatory responses post-acute myocardial infarction (AMI).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the seroprevalence of H. pylori in Iranian patients with AMI.
- To determine the prevalence of H. pylori strains carrying the cytotoxin-associated protein (CagA) in AMI patients.
- To assess C-reactive protein (CRP) levels as an inflammatory marker in AMI patients with H. pylori infection.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 500 AMI patients and 500 controls.
- Seropositivity for H. pylori and CagA was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and western blotting.
- Serum CRP levels were measured in all participants.
Main Results:
- H. pylori infection and CagA seropositivity were significantly higher in AMI patients (66% and 75.7%) compared to controls (20% and 30%).
- The odds ratio for AMI associated with H. pylori infection was 2.57.
- CRP levels were significantly elevated in AMI patients (5.02±1.04 mg/l) compared to controls (2.41±0.9 mg/l).
Conclusions:
- AMI patients exhibit a significantly higher prevalence of H. pylori infection and CagA seropositivity.
- H. pylori infection is associated with AMI, potentially mediated by an inflammatory process.
- The findings support a link between H. pylori seropositivity and AMI through inflammation.
Objectives:
Helicobacter pylori infection has been linked to cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and several studies have reported its positive association with inflammatory response after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). On account of the importance of the inflammatory process in the development of CVD, we decided to examine the seroprevalence of H. pylori, the prevalence of CVD risk in the more virulent strains bearing the cytotoxin-associated protein (CagA), and the changes in C-reactive protein (CRP) as an inflammatory marker in Iranian patients with AMI.
Methods:
A case-control study was designed to determine the seropositivity status of H. pylori and CagA in blood samples obtained from 500 patients with AMI and 500 control individuals without any evidence of clinical CVD. Serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells were analyzed using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and western blotting methods, respectively. CRP levels were also measured in all individuals.
Results:
The prevalence of H. pylori infection and CagA status were significantly higher among the patients with AMI than the controls (66 vs. 20% and 75.7 vs. 30%, respectively); the odds ratio was 2.57 (95% confidence interval 1.89-3.49). CRP levels were significantly different in the patients compared with the controls (5.02±1.04 mg/l vs. 2.41±0.9 mg/l, respectively).
Conclusion:
Our results confirmed that the patients with AMI had a significantly higher prevalence of H. pylori infection and CagA seropositivity than the control population. Infection with H. pylori may influence AMI, which in our findings shows an association between H. pylori seropositivity and AMI through an inflammatory process.
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