title: Helicobacter pylori seropositivity and pregnancy-related diseases: a prospective cohort study.
abstract: The relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and extragastric disease is well established. This study prospectively investigated whether maternal H. pylori seropositivity, detected during the first half of pregnancy, could be associated with the development of the major pregnancy-related pathological conditions during the late second or third trimester in a general population. Our hypothesis was that H. pylori infection might negatively influence pregnancy development and outcome. A total of 2820 consecutive pregnant women were recruited before 20 weeks' gestation, from October 2008 to August 2010, and blood samples were collected from each subject. IgG antibodies against H. pylori were assayed in maternal serum by a commercial immunoassay. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess any association between H. pylori seropositivity and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) was the most common maternal complication (5.7%) and the only pregnancy-related disorder with a significantly higher rate of H. pylori-positive women (41.3%) compared with subjects who did not develop the disease (27.7%; P < 0.001; OR = 1.829, 95% CI = 1.320-2.533). The difference observed remained statistically significant after adjusting for potential confounding variables. The presence of antibodies against H. pylori antigens in maternal serum was independently associated with the development of GDM. These findings suggest that H. pylori eradication might play a role in the prevention of gestational diabetes mellitus.
authors: Sant'Anna Hospital, Corso Spezia 60, 10126 Turin, Italy; Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Turin, Via Ventimiglia 3, 10126 Turin, Italy. Electronic address: simona.cardaropoli@unito.it.
authors: Simona
authors: S
authors: Cardaropoli
authors: Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Turin, Via Ventimiglia 3, 10126 Turin, Italy.
authors: Domenica
authors: D
authors: Giuffrida
authors: Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Turin, Via Ventimiglia 3, 10126 Turin, Italy.
authors: Annalisa
authors: A
authors: Piazzese
authors: Sant'Anna Hospital, Corso Spezia 60, 10126 Turin, Italy; Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Turin, Via Ventimiglia 3, 10126 Turin, Italy.
authors: Tullia
authors: T
authors: Todros
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000097:blood*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000097:blood*; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second / Q000097:blood; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G
keywords: Gestational diabetes mellitus; Helicobacter pylori; Infection; Pregnancy outcome