The role of Helicobacter pylori in preeclampsia and in gastric diseases in pregnant women

ABSTRACT

Background: Helicobacter pylori is a gastric organism was first observed more than 100 years ago. It may cause chronic gastritis, peptic ulcers and gastric adenocarcinoma and lymphoma. It can produce some extragastric disorders including preeclampsia. This study aimed to focus on the importance of H. pylori and its relationship with preeclampsia and gastric illnesses in pregnant patients.Methods: This study includeed 100 pregnant women, half of them were healthy and the other half with preeclampsia. Patients with chronic medical illnesses were excluded. Data was collected and laboratory investigations were done including that for H. pylori. Oesophagogastroduodenoscopy then was done 6 weeks post-delivery or termination of pregnancy for symptomatic H. pylori positive women.Results: 50% of the total number were healthy, 17% had mild preeclampsia, 33% suffering from severe preeclampsia. Seropositivity for H. pylori is significantly higher in preeclampsia and significantly related to severity of preeclampsia and complications of pregnancy. Positive H. pylori test in stool was seen in (45%) of total number of patients. Epigastric pain persist in 41 (91%) of patients with positive H. pylori test in stool. Gastritis, duodenal ulcer, and gastric ulcer were found in 85.3%, 12.1% and 2.4% of symptomatic patients respectively.Conclusions: Significant correlation between Helicobacter pylori seropositivity and preeclampsia may indicate the benefit of using this parameter in the prediction and management of preeclampsia and its severity. H. pylori infection plays an important role in gastric pathologies in pregnant women that can be dealt with or may be prevented more efficiently in future.