HELICOBACTER PYLORI INFECTION AMONG GENERAL POPULATION AND PATIENTS OF MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION

Abstract

Background: Evidence showed a role of Helicobacter pylori infection in the aetiology of myocardial infarction. Helicobacter pylori is more prevalent in the developing than the developed countries, the sero-prevalence in Pakistan being about 58–60%. Methods: A total of 200 subjects were included in this study. They were divided into two groups. Group A (n=150) consisted of admitted patients of myocardial infarction after the first-time myocardial infarction. Group B (n=50) were apparently healthy adults. Mean age of the subjects in the two groups was non-significantly different and ranged between 40 and 65 years. About 10 ml of venous blood was drawn in a syringe, left to clot, and serum was separated by centrifugation. H. pylori antibodies were estimated using ELISA. Results: In group A, 68.7%, and in group B 44% patients showed IgG antibodies for H. pylori. The comparison of the percentages of H. pylori positive cases in group A and group B was statistically significant. In our study, 44% of apparently normal, healthy population was shown to have antibodies to H. pylori. Conclusion: A significantly increased percentage of subjects suffering from myocardial infarction showed H. pylori antibodies in their sera compared to apparently normal, healthy subjects.

Pak J Physiol 2015;11(4):10–1