title: Helicobacter pylori Infection and Anemia in Taiwanese Adults.
abstract: Background. Chronic Helicobacter pylori infection and iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) are common in adults. Although the most common causes of IDA usually arise from the gastrointestinal tract, the association between chronic Helicobacter pylori infection and anemia remains unclear. Aim. To evaluate the association of chronic Helicobacter pylori infection and IDA. Materials and Methods. We enrolled 882 patients from January 2010 to April 2013. The status of Helicobacter pylori (H.p) infection was confirmed and blood samples from the same participants were taken on the same day to check the level of hemoglobin, serum iron, ferritin, and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC). Results. No significant difference was noted from the demographic data. The average level of hemoglobin (Hb) was not different between negative and positive groups, pos 13.57 g/dL versus neg 13.65 g/dL (P = 0.699). Although the levels of serum IDA related parameters were expected in positive group (lower serum iron and ferritin and higher TIBC) these differences did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.824 for iron, P = 0.360 for ferritin, and P = 0.252 for TIBC). Conclusion. Chronic Helicobacter pylori infection is not attributed to IDA. The levels of hemoglobin, serum iron and ferritin, and TIBC remain unaffected after chronic H.p infection. Large-scale clinical studies are needed to prove the association.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal Hsiao-Kang Hospital, Kaohsiung City 812, Taiwan ; Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung City 807, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsiang-Yao
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, College of Medicine, I-Shou University and E-Da Hospital, Kaohsiung City 824, Taiwan ; Graduate Institute of Public Health, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung City 807, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Fu-Chen
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung City 807, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Sophie S W
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung City 807, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Chang
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal Hsiao-Kang Hospital, Kaohsiung City 812, Taiwan ; Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung City 807, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Meng-Chieh
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung City 807, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yang-Pei
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Information, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital, Kaohsiung City 801, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Guei-Fen
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.affiliation: Administration Center, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung City 807, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Pi-Yu
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal Hsiao-Kang Hospital, Kaohsiung City 812, Taiwan ; Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung City 807, Taiwan ; Cancer Center, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung City 807, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Deng-Chyang
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua County 500, Taiwan ; Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung City 404, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ming-Chia
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua County 500, Taiwan ; School of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung City 807, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yao-Li
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Chen