The association of Helicobacter pylori infection with coronary artery disease: fact or fiction?
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is an important cause of peptic ulcer disease and other gastrointestinal disorders. Since its discovery, a number of extra-gastrointestinal diseases have been reported to be associated with H. pylori infection. Recently, several epidemiological and clinical studies suggested that H. pylori infection has been associated with an increased risk of developing coronary artery disease (CAD). Evidence from animal studies showed that H. pylori plays an important role in the acute phase of myocardial infarction by causing platelet aggregation and inducing pro-coagulant activity in experimentally infected mice. However, results from human studies are conflicting in providing clear evidence for an association between H. pylori and CAD. Therefore, the aim of this article is to critically analyze the available evidence to prove or refute such an association.
Department of Medicine, King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Mohamed Zakaria
MZ
Khalil