Helicobacter pylori sero-prevalence in asthma

Respir Med. 2000 Aug;94(8):756-9. doi: 10.1053/rmed.2000.0817.

Abstract

Asthma is a very common respiratory disease which is characterized by the presence of cytokine-mediated airway inflammation leading to smooth muscle contraction, oedema and progressive airway damage in some cases. In light of our recent finding of an increased sero-prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in bronchiectasis, we have determined serum levels of H. pylori-specific IgG in asthmatic and control subjects. Altogether 90 consecutive asthmatic [mean age +/- SD 42.6+/-16 years and 52 female (F)] and 97 healthy control subjects (mean age +/- SD 43.2+/-13.3 years and 51 female (F); P = 0.78 and 0.39 respectively) were recruited prospectively. H. pylori sero-prevalence was not significantly different between asthmatic and control subjects (P>0.05). Serum H. pylori IgG levels did not correlate with FEV1 % predicted, FVC % predicted or duration of asthma (P>0.05). Similar to the results of previously published sero-epidemiological studies, there was a weak correlation between serum H. pylori IgG with increasing age (r = 0.43, P = 0.004). Despite the sero-epidemiological association of H. pylori infection with many inflammatory conditions, our data showed no such association for middle age asthmatic patients with mild intermittent asthma in our locality.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood*
  • Asthma / microbiology*
  • Asthma / physiopathology
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Forced Expiratory Volume / physiology
  • Helicobacter pylori / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood*
  • Male
  • Prospective Studies
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Vital Capacity / physiology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Immunoglobulin G