Cytotoxin-associated gene-A--positive Helicobacter pylori strains are associated with atherosclerotic stroke.
BACKGROUND
It is uncertain whether Helicobacter pylori is associated with ischemic syndromes and whether this association is mediated by the induction of atherosclerosis. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that atherosclerotic stroke shows a selective association with virulent H pylori strains.


RESULTS
The seroprevalence of infection by H pylori and by strains bearing the cytotoxin-associated gene-A (CagA), a strong virulence factor, was assessed by ELISA in 138 patients with large-vessel stroke (group A), in 61 patients with cardioembolic stroke (group B), and in 151 healthy control subjects. The 3 groups had a similar socioeconomic status. Serum levels of C-reactive protein were also measured by ELISA. The prevalence of infection was 71% in group A, 63.9% in group B, and 70.2% in the control group (P=NS), whereas the prevalence of CagA-positive strains was higher in group A than in group B (42.8% versus 19.7%, respectively; odds ratio 3.04, 95% CI 1.43 to 6.49; P<0.001) and higher in group A than in the control group (42.8% versus 17.9%, respectively; odds ratio 4.3, 95% CI 2.12 to 8.64; P<0.001), after adjusting for main cardiovascular risk factors and social class. A trend toward a difference in C-reactive protein was observed between CagA-positive (2.00+/-3.43 [mean+/-SD] mg/dL) and CagA-negative (1.31+/-1.72 [mean+/-SD] mg/dL) patients (P=0.072, Mann-Whitney U test).


CONCLUSIONS
The association between H pylori and acute cerebrovascular disease seems to be due to a higher prevalence of more virulent H pylori strains in patients with atherosclerotic stroke.
Pietroiusti
Antonio
A
Medical Semiology and Methodology, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy. pietroiusti@med.uniroma2.it
Diomedi
Marina
M
Silvestrini
Mauro
M
Cupini
Letizia Maria
LM
Luzzi
Ida
I
Gomez-Miguel
Maria Jesus
MJ
Bergamaschi
Antonio
A
Magrini
Andrea
A
Carrabs
Tiziana
T
Vellini
Marina
M
Galante
Alberto
A
D000368:Aged; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D015897:Comorbidity; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D014774:Virulence / Q000276:immunology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; C080866:cagA protein, Helicobacter pylori; D002097:C-Reactive Protein