title: Correlation between Helicobacter pylori infection, IgE hypersensitivity, and allergic disease in Korean adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The correlation between allergic disease and Helicobacter pylori infection is still controversial in endemic areas. The aim of this study was to determine whether H. pylori infection is related to allergic disease and/or immunoglobulin E (IgE) hypersensitivity in Korean adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive Korean adults who visited our center for a routine checkup were enrolled. All subjects completed a questionnaire that was designed to ascertain their medical history pertaining to physician-diagnosed allergic disease, allergy treatments, and H. pylori eradication therapy. Blood was sampled for serum anti-H. pylori IgG antibody. IgE hypersensitivity was measured using a commercially available ImmunoCAP(®) Phadiatop (Phadia AB, Uppsala, Sweden).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 3376 Korean adults who were enrolled, 62 did not answer to the questionnaires adequately and were thus excluded. The proportion of noninfected subjects (p < .001) and the prevalence of IgE-related allergic disease (p < .001) were both highest among those aged <40 years, while the prevalence of non-IgE-related allergic disease was highest among those aged ≥70 years (p < .001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that being younger than 40 years was significantly related to the absence of H. pylori infection (OR = 2.507, 95% CI = 1.621-3.878, p < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The statuses of H. pylori infection, IgE hypersensitivity, and allergic diseases differ with age group, there being a higher prevalence of IgE-related allergic disease and a lower H. pylori infection rate among young adults. The hygiene hypothesis might explain these findings in young Koreans, due to the rapid development and improvements in sanitation in Korea.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Pyo
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sun-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jeong Hwan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: In-Kyung
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: Hyung Seok
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Chan Sup
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.forename: Hee-Won
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Moon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E
keywords: Helicobacter pylori; IgE hypersensitivity; Phadiatop; allergy; eradication