Increased thrombin generation and circulating levels of tumour necrosis factor-alpha in patients with chronic Helicobacter pylori-positive gastritis.
BACKGROUND
Conflicting data have been reported concerning the relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and coronary heart disease.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate clotting system activation and plasma levels of tumour necrosis factor-alpha, a procoagulant cytokine, in patients with H. pylori-positive and -negative gastritis.


METHODS
Three groups of patients were identified: 38 with H. pylori-positive gastritis, 18 with H. pylori-negative gastritis, and 40 H. pylori-negative controls with normal gastric mucosa. Plasma levels of prothrombin fragment 1 + 2 (F1 + 2) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha were assayed. Patients were also controlled after 2 and 6 months following standard H. pylori eradication treatment.


RESULTS
At baseline, fragment 1 + 2 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha levels in H. pylori-positive patients were significantly higher than those in H. pylori-negative patients with gastritis (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). After H. pylori eradication, fragment 1 + 2 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha levels showed a significant decrease at 2 months (P = 0.03 and P = 0.02, respectively) and a further reduction at 6 months, reaching levels observed in H. pylori-negative patients and controls.


CONCLUSIONS
The increase thrombin generation rate and the correlation of plasma fragment 1 + 2 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha levels in H. pylori-positive patients suggest a role for inflammation in mediating the relationship between H. pylori infection and activation of the clotting system.
Department of Clinical Sciences, Gastroenterology Unit, Rome, Italy. adriana.consolazio@uniroma1.it
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A
Consolazio
M C
MC
Borgia
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D
Ferro
F
F
Iacopini
O A
OA
Paoluzi
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P
Crispino
F
F
Nardi
M
M
Rivera
P
P
Paoluzi
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000502:physiology*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005756:Gastritis / Q000097:blood; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013917:Thrombin / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D013917:Thrombin