LACK OF ASSOCIATION BETWEEN HELICOBACTER PYLORI'S VIRULENCE AND INCREASED SERUM C-REACTIVE PROTEIN LEVELS IN FUNCTIONAL DYSPEPTIC PATIENTS.
BACKGROUND
Recently, a great variety of studies aimed to investigate and even suggest Helicobacter pylori as an important key factor in gastrointestinal and non-gastrointestinal events development. The well-established relationship between bacterial virulence and increased risk for peptic ulcer or gastric carcinoma is not so clear when comparing inflammation markers alterations, such C-reactive protein, with the pathogen.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to evaluate the presence of H. pylori, bacterial virulence and C-reactive protein serum levels in individuals diagnosed with functional dyspepsia.


METHODS
Were prospectively included in this study 489 dyspeptic individuals. They fulfill Rome III clinical criteria for the diagnosis of functional dyspepsia with no organic disease at endoscopy. The bacterial infection was established by histology and urease rapid test. The levels of serum C-reactive protein were obtained by immunonefelometry and CagA status of H. pylori positive individuals was determined through an imunoenzimatic assay.


RESULTS
Prevalence rate of H. pylori was 66.3% and virulence factor CagA was detected in nearly 43% of positive samples. In addition, it has been noticed an association between Ilex paraguariensis (yerba maté) consumption and pathogen's prevalence. An important effect of bacterial infection on inflammation was only observed in gastric epithelium.


CONCLUSIONS
No systemic response to the pathogen, measured through C-reactive protein levels, was observed, regardless of CagA status. Otherwise, the intake of yerba maté should be considered as a cultural factor possibly related to H. pylori's transmission.
Programa de pós-graduação: Ciências em Gastroenterologia e Hepatologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil; , Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Programa de pós-graduação: Ciências em Gastroenterologia e Hepatologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre RS , Brazil.
Huander Felipe
HF
Andreolla
Programa de pós-graduação: Ciências em Gastroenterologia e Hepatologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil; , Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Programa de pós-graduação: Ciências em Gastroenterologia e Hepatologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre RS , Brazil.
Laura Renata de
LR
Bona
Hospital Ernesto Dornelles, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil; , Hospital Ernesto Dornelles, Porto Alegre RS , Brasil.
Guilherme Becker
GB
Sander
Programa de pós-graduação: Ciências em Gastroenterologia e Hepatologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil; , Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Programa de pós-graduação: Ciências em Gastroenterologia e Hepatologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre RS , Brazil.|Serviço de Gastroenterologia, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil; , Serviço de Gastroenterologia, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre RS , Brasil.
Luiz Edmundo
LE
Mazzoleni
Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brasil; , Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas RS , Brazil.
Rejane Giacomelli
RG
Tavares
Programa de pós-graduação: Ciências em Gastroenterologia e Hepatologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil; , Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Programa de pós-graduação: Ciências em Gastroenterologia e Hepatologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre RS , Brazil.|Laboratório de Citopatologia, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil., Laboratório de Citopatologia, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre RS , Brasil.
João Carlos
JC
Prolla
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology; D005756:Gastritis / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014774:Virulence
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D015415:Biomarkers; C080866:cagA protein, Helicobacter pylori; D002097:C-Reactive Protein