title: Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with decreased serum levels of high density lipoprotein, but not with the severity of coronary atherosclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this survey was to study the association between Helicobacter pylori infection and the severity of coronary atherosclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population consisted of 961 consecutive patients (711 males and 250 females) who underwent coronary angiography for suspected or known coronary atherosclerosis. The patients' body mass index, blood pressure, the blood lipid, blood glucose, leukocyte count (10(9)/L), neutrophil count (10(9)/L), and Helicobacter pylori-specific IgG antibodies were performed. Coronary angiograms were scored according to vessel score and Gensini's score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant association between H. pylori infection and coronary atherosclerosis as well as its severity was not find in this cross section study (p = 0.858). And, the level distribution of vessel score (p = 0.906) and Gensini's score (p = 0.905) were similar in the seropositivity group and seronegativity group of Helicobacter pylori infection. However, the level of fasting high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (mmol/L) (p = 0.013) was significantly lower in the seropositivity group than that in the seronegativity group of Helicobacter pylori infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, in the present study, a significantly correlation between Helicobacter pylori seropositivity and angiographically evaluated severity of atherosclerosis was not find. And, the present study showed a good correlation between Helicobacter pylori infection and decreased HDL cholesterol. However, the exact mechanisms need further study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu Province, China. enzhijia@yahoo.cn
authors.forename: En-Zhi
authors.initials: EZ
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Fu-Jun
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: Tie-Bing
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Lian-Sheng
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ke-Jiang
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Wen-Zhu
authors.initials: WZ
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Zhi-Jian
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Guoxin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL