Helicobacter pylori infection as a possible risk factor for respiratory system disease: A review of the literature

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection may cause extradigestive manifestations directly or indirectly, by potential mechanisms. HP infection triggers a marked local inflammatory response and a chronic systemic immune response. Some of the mediators that are thought to be possibly involved in the pathogenesis of extradigestive diseases caused by HP infection include IL-1, TNF-alpha, interferon (IFN)-gamma, leukotriene C4 and platelet-activating factor. Previous epidemiological and serological case control studies have revealed that HP infection might have a role in the development of chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis, lung cancer and tuberculosis. However HP infection does not appear to have a role in the development of bronchial asthma. Considering the importance and prevalence of respiratory system diseases, it may be time to conduct well-designed sets of studies to clarify whether there is an association with HP infection and respiratory system diseases, and to answer questions that have been posed regarding the patterns of histology, genotypes of HP, and the effects of eradication therapy. The aim of this review was to analyze the possible association between HP and respiratory disease and provide a critical review of the relevant literature.

<I>HELICOBACTER PYLORI</I> INFECTION IN NEVER-SMOKING MALE PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE AND ITS RELATION TO LUNG FUNCTION

“…Some recent epidemiologic and serologic studies have reported a relationship between H. pylori seropositivity, especially of the high virulent cytotoxin-asssociated gene A (CagA) positive strains and extra-gastroduodenal diseases, such as vascular (coronary artery disease and stroke), metabolic (autoimmune atrophic thyroiditis), rheumatic (Henoch-Schönlein purpura), dermatologic (chronic urticaria and rosacea), as well as respiratory diseases (chronic bronchitis, COPD, bronchiectasis, asthma and lung cancer) (Whincup et al, 1996;Luis et al, 1998;Tsang et al, 1998;Roussos et al, 2006;Jun et al, 2006;Behroozian and Moradkhan, 2010). The activation of inflammatory mediators as a result of systemic immune response induced by H. pylori infection may be potential explanation for these associations (Kanbay et al, 2007).…”

Helicobacter pyloriseroprevalence in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

“…pylori is a Gram-negative, spiral bacterium. There are two major groups of H. pylori microorganisms: type I, which expresses the vacuolating cytotoxin VacA and the cytotoxin-associated gene CagA and is responsible for mucosal damage, inducing local inflammatory response; and type II, which expresses neither of these proteins and does not determine any injury [4]. Type I strains, which have the chromosomal insertion called Cag, are endowed with increased inflammatory function that may determine further augmentation of local and systemic cytokines [5].…”

“…CagA H. pylori strains play a role in gastroduodenal ulcers and the development of gastric cancer. H. pylori infection was recently demonstrated to protect against gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and reflux esophagitis [6], to be associated with several extragastric disorders [7] and to play a role in respiratory disorders, such as chronic bronchitis and lung cancer [4,8,9]. A protective function in bronchial asthma, rhinitis and T-helper cell type 2 (Th-2) driven disorders in general has been proposed [10].…”

The Study of Association between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

“…Presence or absence of H. pylori infection does not affect pulmonary function tests in asthmatic children either before or after the eradication therapy. Helicobacter pylori eradication does not affect the frequency of asthma attacks [91]. In 2008 Kurtran H Uyar ME, Kasapoglu B, Turkay C, Yilmaz T, Akcay A, and Kanbay M studied about the role of Helicobacter pylori in pathogenesis of upper respiratory system diseases.…”

“…Considering the importance and prevalence of respiratory system diseases, it may be time to conduct well-designed sets of studies to clarify whether there is an association with HP infection and respiratory system diseases, and to answer questions that have been posed regarding the patterns of histology, genotypes of HP, and the effects of eradication therapy. The aim of this review was to analyze the possible association between HP and respiratory disease and provide a critical review of the relevant literature [91]. In 2005 Mehmet Kanbay, Gurden Gur, Sule Akcay and Ugur Yilmaz wrote an article about Helicobacter pylori seroprevalence in patients with chronic bronchitis after carrying out a study in which they found that a high rate of seropositivity for antibodies against Helicobacter pylori has been found in many extra gastrointestinal diseases.…”