title: The effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication on liver enzymes in patients referring with unexplained hypertransaminasemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Evidence has shown an association of Helicobacter pylori infection with liver dysfunction and damage. We investigated if H. pylori eradication affects liver enzymes in patients referring with unexplained hypertransaminasemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with mild unexplained hypertransaminasemia accompanied with dyspepsia and confirmed H. pylori infection were studied. Viral, metabolic, autoimmune, and drug/toxin induced hepatitis as well as fatty liver were all ruled-out by appropriate tests. Patients received bismuth-containing quadruple-therapy for 2 weeks. Serum levels of liver enzymes (alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST)) and successful eradication (with stool antigen test) were evaluated 4 weeks after the medication.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total number of 107 patients (55 males, mean age = 35.0 ± 8.4 years) were studied. Eradication was successful in 93 patients (86.9%). Serum levels of AST (6.3 ± 19.6 IU/L, P = 0.002) and ALT (7.8 ± 24.9 IU/L, P = 0.001) were significantly decreased after eradication. Levels of AST and ALT decreased to normal range respectively in 46.6% and 45.7% of the cases who had baseline levels above the normal range.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed a decrease in liver enzymes after receiving eradication regimen of H. pylori, suggesting a role for H. pylori infection in at least some of patients with mild unexplained hypertransaminasemia. Further studies are warranted to find the underlying mechanisms by which H. pylori infection affects the liver and clinical importance of such effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Salehi
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Minakari
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Arezoo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yaghoutkar
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Elham
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tabesh
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Students' Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Marziyeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salehi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Students' Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mirbagher
keywords: Helicobacter pylori; liver diseases; transaminases