Brief Reports
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2004. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Nov 1, 2004; 10(21): 3179-3181
Published online Nov 1, 2004. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v10.i21.3179
Lack of association between seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection and primary biliary cirrhosis
Marilena Durazzo, Floriano Rosina, Alberto Premoli, Enrico Morello, Sharmila Fagoonee, Rosaria Innarella, Enrico Solerio, Rinaldo Pellicano, Mario Rizzetto
Marilena Durazzo, Alberto Premoli, Enrico Morello, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
Floriano Rosina, Rosaria Innarella, Enrico Solerio, Department of Gastroenterology, Gradenigo Hospital, Turin, Italy
Sharmila Fagoonee, Department of Biology, Biochemistry and Genetics, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
Rinaldo Pellicano, Mario Rizzetto, Department of Gastroenterology, Molinette Hospital, Turin, Italy
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by Grant from CNR 1999
Correspondence to: Professor Marilena Durazzo, Department of Internal Medicine, Corso A.M.Dogliotti 14, 10126 Turin, Italy. marilena.durazzo@unito.it
Telephone: +39-11-6336040 Fax: +39-11-6634751
Received: February 2, 2004
Revised: March 31, 2004
Accepted: April 7, 2004
Published online: November 1, 2004
Abstract

AIM: To determine the association between seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC).

METHODS: In this case-control study, 149 consecutive patients (10 males, 139 females, mean age 58.2 ± 11 years, range 26-82 years) suffering from PBC and 619 consecutive healthy volunteer blood donors (523 males, 96 females, mean age 47 ± 5.3 years, range 18-65 years) attending the Hospital Blood Bank and residing in the same area were recruited. A commercial enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect anti-H pylori (IgG) antibodies in serum.

RESULTS: Antibodies to H pylori were present in 78 (52.3%) out of 149 PBC-patients and in 291 (47%) out of 619 volunteers (P = 0.24, OR 1.24, 95% CI: 0.85-1.80). In the subjects less than 60 years old, the prevalence of H pylori infection among PBC-patients (40/79) was slightly higher than in controls (50.6% vs 46.2%) P = 0.46, OR = 1.19, 95% CI: 0.72-1.95). In those over 60 years, the prevalence of H pylori infection was similar between PBC-patients and controls (54.2% vs 57.8%, P = 0.7, OR 0.86, 95% CI: 0.36-2.07).

CONCLUSION: There is no association between seroprevalence of H pylori infection and primary biliary cirrhosis.

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