Extragastric manifestations of Helicobacter pylori infection.
The possible role of Helicobacter pylori as a trigger for some extragastric diseases has been largely investigated in the last year. There are, in fact, several studies concerning cardiovascular diseases, neurological disorders, diabetes mellitus, ear and eyes diseases, immunological and hematological disorders, liver and bile tract diseases, gynecological and respiratory tract pathologies. Among them, idiopathic sideropenic anemia and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura still remain the extragastric diseases showing the most convincing results. Concerning ischemic heart disease, there are new interesting data playing in favor of the association, even though there are still some open issues to be clarified. For the other diseases, more studies are needed to clarify the reality of the proposed association.
Internal Medicine Department, University of Siena, Largo A. Gemelli 8, Rome, Italy.
Natale
N
Figura
Francesco
F
Franceschi
Annalisa
A
Santucci
Giulia
G
Bernardini
Giovanni
G
Gasbarrini
Antonio
A
Gasbarrini
D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans