Impact of Helicobacter pylori Infection on Serum Lipid Profile and Atherosclerosis of Carotid Artery

Abstract

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection has been suggested to be associated with atherosclerosis. The issue is still controversial. It is well known that abnormal lipid profile is re-lated to atherosclerosis and measurement of carotid intima-media thickness. Aim of the study: to investigate carotid intima-media thickness and lipid parameters in H. pylori-positive and -negative subjects. Materials & Methods: This study was conducted in Kurdistan Teaching center of Gastro-enterology and Hepatology (KCGH) in Sulaimani city during the period of December 2012 to March 2014. One hundred dyspeptic patients with H. pylori infection and 74 apparently healthy asymp-tomatic volunteers with H. pylori-negative tests were enrolled in this study. Both groups were comparable in age distribution and gender. H. pylori infection (IgG & IgA) were assessed by ELISA tests, Triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations were measured by routine enzymatic methods using commercial kits. Carotid intima-media thickness was assessed by high-resolution ultra-sound. Results: The mean and maximum values of internal and common carotid intima-media thickness in H. pylori-positive subjects were significantly thicker than in H. pylori-negative sub-jects (p < 0.05). HDL-C level was lower in patients (H. pylori seropositive) than in controls (sero-negative subjects), total cholesterol, LDL-C and triglyceride level were found to be higher in pa-tients than in controls (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Carotid intima-media thickness as well as all lipid values apart from HDL-C was increased in H. pylori-positive subjects. These data indicated that H.