title: Does Helicobacter pylori play a role in the pathogenesis of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to investigate whether Helicobacter pylori plays a role in the pathogenesis and severity of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis, and its relationship with gastroesophageal reflux (GER).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-one patients and 16 controls between 5 and 18 years of age were enrolled. H. pylori was investigated on polymerase chain reaction and culture in gastric juice (GJ) and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Urea breath test (UBT) was also used for defining H. pylori infection. GER was detected on 24 h pH monitoring or scintigraphy. Computed tomography (CT) scoring was used to quantify the severity and extent of bronchiectasis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine patients (22%) in the bronchiectasis group (BG) and three patients (18.8%) in the control group (CG) had H. pylori-positive BALF. Sixteen BG patients (39%) and seven CG patients (43.8%) had H. pylori-positive GJ. UBT was positive in 11 BG patients (26.8%) and in three CG patients (18.8%). H. pylori positivity in BALF, GJ and UBT was not significantly different between the two groups (P > 0.05). Six patients with GER and five patients without GER in BG had H. pylori-positive BALF and GJ (P = 0.827). No association was found between BALF H. pylori positivity and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1 ) in BG. CT score was significantly higher in BG patients with H. pylori-positive compared with H. pylori-negative BALF (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Helicobacter pylori is not associated with the pathogenesis of bronchiectasis but it may be responsible for the severity of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Disease, Dr Sami Ulus Maternity and Children's Research and Education Hospital, Altindağ, Ankara, Turkey. turkanteke@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Turkan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aydın Teke
authors.affiliation: Microbiology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yakut
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Akyön
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Pulmonology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ebru
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yalcin
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ozen
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Pulmonology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Deniz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Doğru
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Pulmonology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nural
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kiper
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Pulmonology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ugur
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ozcelik
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001944:Breath Tests; D001987:Bronchiectasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005750:Gastric Juice / Q000737:chemistry; D005751:Gastric Lavage; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial
keywords: Helicobacter pylori; bronchiectasis; gastroesophageal reflux