Correlation between Helicobacter pylori infection, gastric inflammation and serum homocysteine concentration

Abstract

Background. Epidemiological studies have suggested a link between chronic Helicobacter pylori infection and ischemic heart disease but the underlying mechanism remains elusive. We hypothesized that H. pylori-associated chronic gastritis causes impairment of absorption of vitamin cofactors that are essential in the metabolism of homocysteine and results in hyperhomocysteinemia. Materials and Methods. Forty-nine dyspeptic patients were studied. H. pylori infection was defined by rapid urease test and histology. Fasting serum homocysteine level, which was measured by a validated commercial fluorescence polarization immunoassay, was correlated with H. pylori infection statuses and gastric histology. H. pylori-infected patients were followed up for 24 weeks post eradication for changes in serum homocysteine concentration. Results. Univariate analyses showed that serum homocysteine level correlated with increasing age (p