Relation Between Helicobacter Pylori Infection and Coronary Heart Disease

Objective To determine whether Helicobacter pylori (Hp)infection is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD).Methods One hundred and eleven patients with documented CHD and 127 controls from health examination were investigated in a case-control study.Blood was analyzed for the presence of Hp specific IgG antibodies by ELISA and the concentrations of plasma fibrinogen and lipid peroxide (LPO).Results Infection rate of Hp was higher in CHD patients than that in controls (61% vs 39%, P 0.001).Hp infection is an independent risk factor for CHD (proportion of ration 2.785),and infection rate of CagA was higher in CHD patients than that in controls (98.5%vs 67.4%, P 0.05).LPO and fibrinogen levels were markedly elevated in CHD patients than that in controls ( P 0.05).Conclusion Hp infection may be a risk factor for CHD.The increase of lipid peroxide and fibrinogen caused by chronic inflammation,which can enhance thrombus formation,may be one of the factors which can induce CHD.