title: Helicobacter pylori in patients suffering from pulmonary disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recently, research of indirect evidence suggested a possible association between Helicobacter pylori and pulmonary disease. This study aimed to determine if H. pylori could be detected in endobronchial specimens collected from patients undergoing bronchoscopy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study was conducted on 34 consecutive patients with any type of lung disease undergoing bronchoscopy in which biopsy was required for their diagnosis. A written informed consent was obtained from all participants. Three bronchial mucosa biopsy samples were obtained using fenestrated biopsy forceps. One sample was used to determine urease activity, the second one for histopathological examination, and the third one for diagnosis. All subjects were fully informed regarding the gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) Questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 34 patients with pulmonary diseases (12 males and 22 females, mean age 58.2±18.2 years) out of which, 11 (32.4%) had GERD. No significant difference was found between the histopathological assay and GERD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study found no direct evidence supporting the theory that H. pylori may cause pulmonary disease and no relation with GERD was detected. However, a possible indirect role could not be excluded. Further studies in patients with GERD and lung disease may reveal a potential pathogenic link between H. pylori and pulmonary disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Hazrate-Rasoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, TEHRAN-IRAN.
authors.forename: Narges-Ol-Sadat
authors.initials: NO
authors.lastname: Shams-Hosseini
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Hazrate-Rasoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, TEHRAN-IRAN.
authors.forename: Seyed Ali Javad
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Mousavi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Hazrate-Rasoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, TEHRAN-IRAN.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kadivar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Hazrate-Rasoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, TEHRAN-IRAN.
authors.forename: Ehsan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ahmadipour
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Hazrate-Rasoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, TEHRAN-IRAN.
authors.forename: Rostam
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yazdani
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Hazrate-Rasoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, TEHRAN-IRAN.
authors.forename: Vahan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Moradians
keywords: Bronchoscopy; Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD); Helicobacter pylori; Lung disease