[Toxic megacolon after Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy]

Improvement of Idiopathic Cardiomyopathy After Colon Clear

BACKGROUND

The study aimed to illustrate the effect of colon clear on idiopathic myocardial dysfunction. Helicobacter pylori colonized the stomach since an immemorial time, as if both the stomach and the bacterium used to live together in peace harmless to each other. H. pylori could migrate or get forced to migrate to the colon; antibiotics are seldom effective against extra-gastric H. pylori strains. The association of H. pylori and some cardiovascular diseases like myocarditis and cardiomyopaty has been sufficiently mentioned in literature. The role played by the increased mucosal production of inflammatory mediators (cytokines) induced by H. pylori among patients with ischemic heart diseases has been also clearly illustrated. The clinical association of gastritis and carditis is controversial. Active lymphocytic myocarditis manifested by intractable ventricular tachycardia, non-specific intra-ventricular block, and myocardial dysfunction has been described in a young woman infected with H. pylori; an immune influence has been emphasized in that patient as a possible etiology behind the development of autoimmune myocarditis. It has been reported also in literature that a possible role of autoimmunity induced by H. pylori in cardiomyopathy cannot be excluded.

METHODS

Three female patients with frank history of H. pylori dyspepsia and an age range of 41 - 47 years have developed myocaditis complicated with cardiomyopathy as confirmed by echocardiography (ECG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Existence of H. pylori in the colon was confirmed by H. pylori fecal antigen. Colon clear was done for them.

RESULTS

Symptomatic improvement and clinical recovery to sinus rhythm with minimal supra-ventricular extra-systoles occurred for all patients after colon clear. Patients continued improvement to normal cardiac tracing and normal left ventricular ejection function within further 3 - 4 weeks.

CONCLUSION

Colon clear could be a simple and safe measure to improve changes in cardiac rhythm, heart rate and myocardial function developing in association with H. pylori due to inflammatory, toxic or immune reasons.