Possible association between Helicobacter pylori and extragastric diseases

Helicobacter pylori je spiralna gram - negativna bakterija koja se obično povezuje s gastritisom i peptičkim ulkusom. Prevalencija ove infekcije je visoka u zemljama u razvoju, a mnogo niža u zemljama srednje i zapadne Europe. Infekcija se može dijagnosticirati neinvazivnim i invazivnim metodama. Iako je H. pylori bakterija otkrivena prije gotovo 30 godina, postoje mnoga istraživanja koja otkrivaju nove činjenice i danas. U posljednjih par godina, nekoliko istraživanja je pokazalo vezu između infekcije Helicobacter pylori i mnogih ekstragastričnih bolesti, kao što su kardiovaskularne, imunološke i mnoge druge. Bolest koja prema studijama pokazuje najjaču vezu s ovom infekcijom je imuna trombocitopenija. Također se pretpostavlja da H. pylori ima značajnu ulogu u patofiziologiji ishemijske bolesti srca i anemije uslijed nedostatka željeza. Protivnici ove teorije kažu da je većina tih studija epidemiološka i da nema kliničkih dokaza za povezanost infekcije i tih bolesti. No, jedno je sigurno, H. pylori nije prisutna samo u želucu, nego i u mnogim drugim organima, kao što je oko i bilijarni trakt. Najnovija istraživanja pokazuju da H.pylori infekcija može izazvati upalu niskog intenziteta u mozgu te tako biti povezana s mnogim neuredegenerativnim bolestima. U zaključku možemo reći da iako povezanost između ove bakterije i ekstragastričnih bolesti nije u potpunosti znanstveno dokazana, ova otkrića mogla bi promijeniti dijagnostički i terapijski pristup kod tih istih bolesti.Helicobacter pylori is a spiral Gram – negative bacterium which is usually connected with gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. The prevalence of this infection is high in developing countries and much lower in countries of middle and west Europe. It can be diagnosed by non-invasive and invasive methods. Although H.pylori was discovered almost 30 years ago, there are many studies discovering new facts even today. In the past few years, several studies have showed the connection between Helicobacter pylori infection and many extradigestive diseases, such as cardiovascular, immunological and various others. The one that shows the strongest link is idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. It is also assumed that H.pylori has a big role in pathophysiology of ischemic heart disease and iron-deficiency anemia. The opponents of this theory say that the most of these studies are epidemiological and that there is no clinical proof of connection between infection and these diseases. But, one thing is sure, H.pylori wasn't only found in stomach but also in many other organs such as eye and biliary tract. The most recent study showed that H.pylori can cause low-grade inflammatory state in brain and scientists assume that this can be associated with Alzheimer disease . In conclusion, we could say that although association between this bacteria and extragastic diseases is not scientifically proven, these findings could change the diagnostic and therapeutic approach to these conditions