Association between cirrhosis and Helicobacter pylori-related brain pathologies

Helicobacter pylori antibodies and multiple sclerosis: a single-center study and a short review of the literature

Background

Multiple sclerosis is an immune-mediated disease which has been associated to a great variety of mechanisms that could influence its pathogenesis. Numerous reports in the medical literature suggest that Helicobacter pylori may be a mediator of the disease. However, it is unknown if there is any clear association between MS and HP.

Results

We studied 144 persons with multiple sclerosis prospectively enrolled in our hematopoietic stem cell transplantation program. In 144 persons, 14% patients were positive for IgG-HP whereas 86% were negative, 8.3% pwMS were IgM-HP positive while 91.6% pwMS were negative, 18% patients were positive and 82% negative for IgA-HP. Significantly lower concentrations of anti-HP IgG were found in RRMS in comparison with SPMS (− 28.5, 95% CI 4.3–52.7). While concentrations of anti-HP IgA were significantly lower in SPMS in comparison with RRMS (0.54, 95% CI 0.1–0.9). In a multivariate analysis, positivity rate of anti-HP IgG was found to be higher in SPMS patients (OR 4.7, 95% CI 1.1–19.6).

Conclusions

There was a negative correlation between the presence of anti-HP antibodies and MS. Further larger studies with specific laboratory testing methods are needed to discard or confirm the potential role of anti-HP antibodies as protective for MS.

Meta-analysis of association between Helicobacter pylori infection and multiple sclerosis

Despite recent research focus on the association between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and multiple sclerosis (MS) there is no consensus about the findings. To obtain a more comprehensive estimate of the association we conducted a meta-analysis to determine the prevalence of H. pylori infection in MS patients and healthy controls. Pubmed and EMBASE were searched to identify eligible studies. Nine studies were selected for inclusion, involving 2806 cases (1553 patients with MS and 1253 controls). Overall, the prevalence of H. pylori infection in MS patients was lower than that in control groups (24.66% vs. 31.84%, OR=0.69, 95% CI: 0.57-0.83, P<0.0001). Subgroup analysis revealed that the levels of H.pylori infection among MS patients were lower than for control subjects in Western countries (11.90% vs. 16.08%, OR=0.63, 95% CI: 0.43-0.91, P=0.01), but were not statistically significant in Eastern countries (39.39% vs. 43.82%, OR=0.79, 95% CI: 0.55-1.14, P=0.20). Our data show that H. pylori infection and MS is negatively correlated, especially in Western countries. Whether H. pylori infection is a protective factor against MS risk should thus be addressed in large-scale and prospective studies.

Extragastric Diseases and Helicobacter pylori

The extragastric manifestations of Helicobacter pylori infection still remain a very strong topic throughout the H. pylori world. Indeed, H. pylori may interfere with many biological processes, both inside and outside of the stomach, possibly influencing or determining the occurrence of many diseases outside of the stomach. While its role in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and sideropenic anemia has already been recognized, emerging evidence suggests that H. pylori may increase the risk of acute coronary syndrome, contribute to insulin resistance and be associated with neurodegenerative, respiratory, and other miscellaneous disorders previously associated with other conditions. Different pathogenic mechanisms have been hypothesized, including the induction of a low-grade inflammatory state and the occurrence of molecular mimicry mechanisms. This review summarizes the results of the most relevant studies published on this topic in the last year.