title: The relationship between Helicobacter pylori IgG titre and coronary atherosclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The role of Helicobacter pylori (HP) in the progression of atherosclerosis is controversial. We investigated the relation between HP IgG antibody titres and severity and intensity of coronary atherosclerosis and also clinical presentation of coronary artery disease (CAD).
  
  
  METHODS
  The patient group consisted of 353 patients with angiographically proven CAD, which contains 3 different subgroups: 163 patients with myocardial infarction (MI), 106 patients with unstable angina (USAP) and 84 patients with stable angina (SAP). Control group included 163 subjects with angiographically proven normal coronary arteries. Helicobacter pylori IgG antibody titres were measured by an enzyme immunoassay method in all patients. Gensini and Extent scores were used to evaluate the angiographic severity and extent of atherosclerosis. C-reactive protein levels were measured by Behring nephelometry system kits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seropositivity rates for HP were similar between groups (82.7% in the patient group and 86.6% in the control group (P > 0.05)). Also HP-IgG levels were similar among the MI, USAP and SAP groups. No significant correlation was observed between CRP levels and HP-LgG level titres. There was no significant correlation between HP-IgG level (r = 0.086, P = 0.2) and Gensini score but a significant poor correlation was observed between HP-IgG level and Extent score (r = + 0.156, P = 0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Helicobacter pylori IgG titres do not play an important role in the presentation of CAD and do not increase systemic inflammatory response. However, Helicobacter pylori IgG antibody titres may be correlated with the extent of CAD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Erciyes University School of Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey. iozdogru@erciyes.edu.tr
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ozdogru
authors.forename: Nihat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kalay
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dogan
authors.forename: Mehmet T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Inanc
authors.forename: Mehmet Gungor
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.forename: Ramazan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Topsakal
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gul
authors.forename: Ilker
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kutukoglu
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kilic
authors.forename: Namik K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Eryol
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome; D000787:Angina Pectoris; D000789:Angina, Unstable; D000818:Animals; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D002097:C-Reactive Protein