Helicobacter pylori seroprevalence in patients with bronchiectasis

This study assessed Helicobacter pylori [HP] seroprevalence in bronchiectatic patients and determined whether there is a potential association between bronchiectasis and H.pylori infection or not. This study was conducted on forty consecutive patients [26 men, 14 women; mean age 48.90 +/- 16.67 years, range 21-86 years] with bronchiectasis diagnosed by clinical symptoms and high resolution CT-scan. Helicobacter pylori IgG serum levels were measured in serum by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Forty healthy subjects [25 men, 15 women; mean age 55.50 +/- 11.91 years, range 16-77 years] were selected as controls with no history of cerebrovascular, ischemic heart or respiratory diseases. Control subjects were matched for age, gender and socioeconomic status. Significant differences were observed in the seroprevalence of H.pylori between the two groups, who had similar age, gender distribution and socioeconomic status [76.0% vs. 54.4%, p=0.001]. Similarly, H.pylori IgG levels were significantly higher in bronchiectatic patients than in control subjects attended the hospital with non-respiratory conditions [1.43 +/- 0.55 and 1.07 +/- 0.44 U/ml, respectively; p < 0.05]. The association between Hp infection and bronchiectasis was confirmed in this study. Additional studies with larger numbers of patients and randomized control studies should be undertaken to assess the relationship and impact of the H.pylori eradication on bronchiectasis