Helicobacter pylori seroprevalence in patients with chronic bronchitis

Aim: A high rate of seropositivity for antibodies against Helicobacter pylori has been found in many extragastrointestinal diseases. In addition, it has been reported that the risk of chronic bronchitis may be increased in subjects infected with H. pylori. This study was designed to determine the H. pylori seroprevalence in patients with and without chronic bronchitis. Materials and methods: This study enrolled 68 patients with chronic bronchitis (40 men and 28 women, aged 50.5 +/- 16.2 years (mean +/- standard deviation) and 95 control subjects (60 men and 35 women, aged 51.8 +/- 15.9 years) matched for age and sex. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay immunoglobulin (Ig) 6 test for H. pylori diagnosis was performed on all enrolled subjects (those with chronic bronchitis and controls). Results: Forty-five of 68 patients with chronic bronchitis (66.1%) and 48 of 95 subjects in the control group (57.7%) tested positive for H. pylori (P = 0.008). Rates of H. pylori infection are higher in patients with chronic bronchitis than in the control group. Conclusion: The main conclusion of this study is that H. pylori infection is associated with an increased prevalence chronic bronchitis. Further studies should be planned to understand the potential pathogenetic mechanisms that might underlie this association. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.