title: The Association between Helicobacter pylori Infection and Chronic Hepatitis C: A Meta-Analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis.
abstract: Purpose. Helicobacter pylori is a common gastric disease-inducing pathogen. Although an increasing number of recent studies have shown that H. pylori is a risk factor for liver disease, the potential association between H. pylori infection and chronic hepatitis C still remains controversial. The aim of our meta-analysis was to evaluate a potential association between H. pylori infection and chronic hepatitis C. Methods. We searched the PubMed, Embase, CNKI, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) databases between January 1, 1994, and May 1, 2015. Results. This study included a total of 1449 patients with chronic hepatitis C and 2377 control cases. The prevalence of H. pylori was significantly higher in patients with chronic hepatitis C than in those without chronic hepatitis C. The pooled odds ratio was 2.93. In a subgroup analysis, the odds ratios were 4.48 for hepatitis C virus- (HCV-) related cirrhosis and 5.45 for hepatocellular carcinoma. Conclusion. Our study found a strong association between H. pylori and chronic hepatitis C, particularly during the HCV progression stage; thus, we recommend active screening for H. pylori in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China; Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis, Hunan, China.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China; Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis, Hunan, China.
authors.forename: Wen-Ting
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China; Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis, Hunan, China.
authors.forename: Yi-Xiang
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.
authors.forename: Shu-Shan
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Blood Transfusion, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China; Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis, Hunan, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China; Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis, Hunan, China.
authors.forename: Rong-Rong
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China; Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis, Hunan, China.
authors.forename: Ze-Bing
authors.initials: ZB
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China; Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis, Hunan, China.
authors.forename: Xue-Gong
authors.initials: XG
authors.lastname: Fan