Association of Helicobacter pylori with hepatobiliary stone disease, a prospective case control study

Cholelithiasis, Gut Microbiota and Bile Acids after Bariatric Surgery-Can Cholelithiasis Be Prevented by Modulating the Microbiota? A Literature Review

BACKGROUND

Cholelithiasis is one of the more common complications following bariatric surgery. This may be related to the rapid weight loss during this period, although the exact mechanism of gallstone formation after bariatric surgery has not been fully elucidated.

METHODS

The present literature review focuses on risk factors, prevention options and the impact of the gut microbiota on the development of gallbladder stones after bariatric surgery.

RESULTS

A potential risk factor for the development of cholelithiasis after bariatric surgery may be changes in the composition of the intestinal microbiota and bile acids. One of the bile acids-ursodeoxycholic acid-is considered to reduce the concentration of mucin proteins and thus contribute to reducing the formation of cholesterol crystals in patients with cholelithiasis. Additionally, it reduces the risk of both asymptomatic and symptomatic gallstones after bariatric surgery. Patients who developed gallstones after bariatric surgery had a higher abundance of Ruminococcus gnavus and those who did not develop cholelithiasis had a higher abundance of Lactobacillaceae and Enterobacteriaceae.

CONCLUSION

The exact mechanism of gallstone formation after bariatric surgery has not yet been clarified. Research suggests that the intestinal microbiota and bile acids may have an important role in this.

The link between Helicobacter pylori infection and gallbladder and biliary tract diseases: A review

Helicobacter pylori is a gram-negative pathogen commonly associated with peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer. H. pylori infection has also been reported in cholelithiasis, cholecystitis, gallbladder polyps, and biliary tract cancers. However, the association between H. pylori and gallbladder and biliary tract pathologies remains unclear due to the paucity of literature. In response to the current literature gap, we aim to review and provide an updated summary of the association between H. pylori with gallbladder and biliary tract diseases and its impact on their clinical management. Relevant peer-reviewed studies were retrieved from Medline, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases. We found that H. pylori infection was associated with cholelithiasis, chronic cholecystitis, biliary tract cancer, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and primary biliary cholangitis but not with gallbladder polyps. While causal links have been reported, prospective longitudinal studies are required to conclude the association between H. pylori and gallbladder pathologies. Clinicians should be aware of the implications that H. pylori infection has on the management of these diseases.

Association Between Anti-Helicobacter pylori Antibody Seropositive and De Novo Gallstone Formation After Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy for Japanese Patients with Severe Obesity

PURPOSE

Patients who have undergone bariatric surgery are at risk for gallstone formation. However, the incidence of gallstone formation after bariatric surgery has not been adequately studied in the Japanese population. We aimed to elucidate the incidence and risk factors for gallstone formation after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) for Japanese patients with severe obesity.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study among patients with severe obesity treated with LSG between April 2017 and June 2020 at two institutions. Patients who had received previous cholecystectomy, had preoperative gallstones, and had received postoperative prophylactic ursodeoxycholic acid were excluded. Body weight, body mass index, and blood data were collected at each follow-up visit before and after the surgery. Follow-up abdominal ultrasonography was performed 6-12 months after surgery, and the incidence of gallstones was calculated. The association between the data and gallstone formation was evaluated.

RESULTS

During the study period, we performed LSG for 98 patients. Of these, 61 cases remained by above conditions and were examined using abdominal ultrasonography over 6 months after surgery. The incidence of gallstones was 23.0% and that of symptomatic gallstones was 3.3%. Anti-Helicobacter pylori antibody seropositive and titer were the only factors that showed significant association with de novo gallstone formation after LSG.

CONCLUSIONS

Anti-Helicobacter pylori antibody seropositive may be associated with de novo gallstone formation after LSG for Japanese patients with severe obesity.

The Relationship between Helicobacter pylori Infection of the Gallbladder and Chronic Cholecystitis and Cholelithiasis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is proved to be the main pathogenic agent of various diseases, including chronic gastritis, gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, and gastric cancer. In addition, chronic cholecystitis and cholelithiasis are common worldwide, which are supposed to increase the total mortality of patients. Epidemiologic evidence on the relationship between H. pylori infection of the gallbladder and chronic cholecystitis/cholelithiasis still remains unclear. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of overall studies to investigate the relationship between H. pylori infection of the gallbladder and chronic cholecystitis/cholelithiasis. Two researchers searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases to obtain all related and eligible studies published before July 2020. The pooled odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by the random-effects model. Subgroup analysis, heterogeneity, publication bias, and sensitivity analysis were also conducted. Twenty studies were included in the meta-analysis, involving 1735 participants and 1197 patients with chronic cholecystitis/cholelithiasis. Helicobacter species infection of the gallbladder was positively correlated with increased risk of chronic cholecystitis and cholelithiasis, especially H. pylori (OR = 3.05; 95% CI, 1.81-5.14; I 2 = 23.5%). Besides, country-based subgroup analysis also showed a positive correlation between the gallbladder H. pylori positivity and chronic cholecystitis/cholelithiasis risk. For Asian and non-Asian country studies, the ORs were 4.30 (95% CI, 1.76-10.50; I 2 = 37.4%) and 2.13 (95% CI, 1.23-3.70; I 2 = 0.0%), respectively. The association was more obvious using the bile sample and urease gene primer. In conclusion, this meta-analysis provided evidence that there is a positive correlation between H. pylori infection in the gallbladder and increased risk of chronic cholecystitis and cholelithiasis.

Gallstone Disease and Microbiome

Gallstone disease (GSD) has, for many years, remained a high-cost, socially significant public health problem. Over the past decade, a number of studies have been carried out-both in humans and in animal models-confirming the role of the microbiota in various sections of the gastrointestinal tract as a new link in the etiopathogenesis of GSD. The microbiome of bile correlates with the bacterial composition of saliva, and the microbiome of the biliary tract has a high similarity with the microbiota of the duodenum. Pathogenic microflora of the oral cavity, through mechanisms of immunomodulation, can affect the motility of the gallbladder and the expression of mucin genes (MUC1, Muc3, MUC4), and represent one of the promoters of stone formation in the gallbladder. The presence of H. pylori infection contributes to the formation of gallstones and affects the occurrence of complications of GSD, including acute and chronic cholecystitis, cholangitis, pancreatitis. Intestinal bacteria (Clostridium, Bifidobacterium, Peptostreptococcus, Bacteroides, Eubacterium, and Escherichia coli) participating in the oxidation and epimerization of bile acids can disrupt enterohepatic circulation and lead to the formation of gallstones. At the same time, cholecystectomy due to GSD leads to the further transformation of the composition of the microbiota in various parts of the gastrointestinal tract, increasing the risk of developing stomach cancer and colorectal cancer. Further research is required to determine the possibility of using the evaluation of the composition of the microbiota of the gastrointestinal and biliary tracts as an early diagnostic marker of various gastroenterological diseases.

Helicobacter Pylori infection of the gallbladder and the risk of chronic cholecystitis and cholelithiasis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Helicobacter pylori is coexisted with various diseases, including chronic gastritis, ulcer, and gastric cancer. Besides, chronic cholecystitis and cholelithiasis are extremely widespread over the world, which are considered as high health-care cost burdens of digestive diseases. Epidemiologic evidence on Helicobacter pylori infection in gallbladder increasing the risk of biliary diseases has been contradictory.

AIM

Conduct a meta-analysis of overall studies and investigate an association between Helicobacter pylori infection of the gallbladder with chronic cholecystitis/cholelithiasis.

METHODS

We used PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane library databases to identify all published studies before August 2017. Pooled odds ratios (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were obtained using the random effects model. Heterogeneity, sensitivity, and stratified analyses were also performed.

RESULTS

Eighteen studies involving 1544 participants and 1061 biliary cases with chronic cholecystitis/cholelithiasis were included. Helicobacter pylori infection of the gallbladder was significantly associated with an increased risk of chronic cholecystitis and cholecystitis (OR = 3.022; 95% CI, 1.897-4.815; I²  = 20.1%). In addition, country-based subgroup analysis also showed a positive association between Helicobacter pylori positivity and chronic cholecystitis/cholelithiasis risk. The ORs (95% CIs) for Asian and non-Asian region studies were 3.75 (1.83-7.71) and 2.25 (1.29-3.89), respectively.

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis suggests that infection of the gallbladder with Helicobacter pylori is closely related to an increased risk of chronic cholecystitis and cholelithiasis.