Association of Helicobacter pylori infection with acute myocardial infarction

Objectives Helicobacter pylori infection has been linked to cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and several studies have reported its positive association with inflammatory response after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). On account of the importance of the inflammatory process in the development of CVD, we decided to examine the seroprevalence of H. pylori, the prevalence of CVD risk in the more virulent strains bearing the cytotoxin-associated protein (CagA), and the changes in C-reactive protein (CRP) as an inflammatory marker in Iranian patients with AMI. Methods A case-control study was designed to determine the seropositivity status of H. pylori and CagA in blood samples obtained from 500 patients with AMI and 500 control individuals without any evidence of clinical CVD. Serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells were analyzed using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and western blotting methods, respectively. CRP levels were also measured in all individuals. Results The prevalence of H. pylori infection and CagA status were significantly higher among the patients with AMI than the controls ( 66 vs. 20% and 75.7 vs. 30%, respectively); the odds ratio was 2.57 (95% confidence interval 1.89-3.49). CRP levels were significantly different in the patients compared with the controls (5.02 +/- 1.04 mg/l vs. 2.41 +/- 0.9 mg/l, respectively). Conclusion Our results confirmed that the patients with AMI had a significantly higher prevalence of H. pylori infection and CagA seropositivity than the control population. Infection with H. pylori may influence AMI, which in our findings shows an association between H. pylori seropositivity and AMI through an inflammatory process. Coron Artery Dis 22:6-11 (C) 2010 Wolters Kluwer Health vertical bar Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.