title: Helicobacter Pylori DNA in Liver Tissues From Chronic Hepatitis C Egyptian Patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is considered the most common etiology of chronic liver disease in Egypt, which may progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Previous studies have documented an association betweenHelicobacter pylori(H. pylori) infection and liver cirrhosis with or without HCC. This study aimed to investigate the presence ofH. pyloriDNA in the liver tissue of Egyptian patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-two CHC Egyptian patients were enrolled in this study. Plasma anti-H. pyloriIgG was assessed with ELISA. Liver biopsies were tested for presence ofHelicobacterDNA using genus specific nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and species was identified by sequencing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anti-H. pyloriIgG was detected in 31/52 (59.6%) CHC patients whileHelicobacterDNA was detected in 6 (11.5%) patients, all wereH. Pyloriby sequencing.HelicobacterDNA was more frequent in patients with high stage liver fibrosis (33.3%) than in those with low stage fibrosis (2.7%) (P = 0.006). There was no association between the presence ofH. pyloriDNA in the liver and age, gender of patients, liver function tests, AFP levels or viral load.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data confirm the presence ofH. pyloriDNA in liver of some CHC Egyptian patients and suggest an association of this bacterium with progression of liver fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, Suez Canal Faculty of medicine, Ismailia, Egypt.
authors.forename: Moushira A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mahmoud
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, Suez Canal Faculty of medicine, Ismailia, Egypt.
authors.forename: Loaa A Tag
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Elden
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Suez Canal Faculty of medicine, Ismailia, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohamed M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Awad
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, Suez Canal Faculty of medicine, Ismailia, Egypt.
authors.forename: Henock A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Haile
keywords: Chronic hepatitis C; H. pylori; HCV; Liver fibrosis