The assessment of risk factors, lipid profile, uric acid and alanine aminotransferase in Helicobacter pylori-positive subjects

Abstract

Background: Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with gastro duodenal ulcer, chronic gastric, MALT lymphoma and gastric cancer but also to coronary heart diseases, ischemic diseases and metabolic diseases like diabetes. The colonization of the stomach by H. pylori causes persistent inflammation of the stomach wall which can influence some biochemical parameters in the patient. The aim of this study was to investigate risk factors, uric acid and alanine aminotransferase along with lipid parameters in H. pylori-positive and -negative patients at Dschang District Hospital in Cameroon.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on 160 consenting patients of average age 53.91±13.36 years attending the hospital for medical check-up or admitted in the hospital. The determination of anti-H. pylori IgG by the indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique, enabled us to distinguish two groups of patients. A questionnaire survey was administered to study participants and potential risk factors for H. pylori exposure sought. Measurements of total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, uric acid and activity of alanine aminotransferase were carried out in serum by methods resulting from commercial kits.Results: The habits of not washing hands after the toilets (OR = 3.33; p = 0.036) and giving of chewed food by the parents to children (OR = 2.26; p = 0.029) were independent risk factors of H. pylori infection. H. pylori infected patients had increased levels of uric acid (p = 0.017), total cholesterol (p = 0.001), LDL-cholesterol (p = 0.021) and total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio (p = 0.046) compared to the uninfected group.Conclusions: Our study therefore suggests that H. pylori infection can cause modifications of lipid parameters and uremia that are considered as risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and gout.