title: Association of Helicobacter pylori infection with systemic inflammation in preeclampsia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), Chlamydia pneumonia IgG, IgM and plasma Helicobacter pylori IgA levels between preeclamptic and normal pregnant women and to determine whether seropositivity to Helicobacter pylori is associated with elevated levels of CRP and TNF-alpha.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty patients with preeclampsia and 40 normotensive pregnant women of similar age and body mass index at the third trimester of gestation were selected for the study. Chlamydia pneumonia IgM and IgGs, Helicobacter pylori IgAs and concentrations of CRP and TNF-alpha were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Concentrations of CRP and TNF-alpha were significantly higher in patients with preeclampsia than in control subjects. In the preeclamptic group, positivity rate for Helicobacter pylori IgA was significantly higher as compared to controls (p = 0.034). CRP and TNF-alpha levels were higher in Helicobacter pylori seropositive subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We demonstrated high levels of serum CRP and TNF-alpha in preeclamptic women who were seropositive to Helicobacter pylori in comparison with those in seronegative subjects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey. ustunyus@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Yusuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: UstUn
authors.forename: Yaprak
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Engin-UstUn
authors.forename: Esra
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ozkaplan
authors.forename: BariS
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Otlu
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sait TekerekoGlu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein