Cutaneous manifestation of Helicobacter pylori infection

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori is known as one of the most common bacteria in the world, affecting millions of people every year, with a prevalence among humans of about 50% worldwide. Moreover, H. pylori is well known for its gastrointestinal disorders, which nowadays are treated mostly with antibiotics, with good response. As well as these gastrointestinal diseases, H. pylori is also involved in the development of many other non-gastrointestinal diseases, including autoimmune and allergic diseases. The wide spectrum activity of H. pylori is obtained by the phenomenon of molecular mimicry, which involves induction by the chemical structures of pathogen antibodies that react both with host antigens and pathogenic microorganism antigens. The following review paper concentrates on several diseases induced by H. pylori. Chronic urticaria is characterised by recurrent itchy blisters on the skin induced by mast cells and basophilic granulocytes, which are activated by enzymes produced and released by H. pylori. Helicobacter pylori infection constitutes some groups of patients with psoriasis vulgaris and vitiligo. The aetiopathogenesis of these diseases is multifactorial, but recent studies have shown the relationship between immune system triggering by H. pylori and the occurrence those skin diseases. Helicobacter pylori, although discovered 30 years ago, is still the subject of many scientific investigations. Current studies are focused on the effects of H. pylori on organs and systems other than the gastrointestinal tract. Many pathways indicate not only negative immune reaction to H. pylori inflammation but also positive protective effects against certain diseases. This creates new preventive and therapeutic opportunities but also the need for further investigations.