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World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol. Aug 15, 2014; 5(3): 355-358
Published online Aug 15, 2014. doi: 10.4291/wjgp.v5.i3.355
Helicobacter pylori as a risk factor for central serous chorioretinopathy: Literature review
Aránzazu Mateo-Montoya, Martine Mauget-Faÿse
Aránzazu Mateo-Montoya, Martine Mauget-Faÿse, Ophthalmology Service, Fondation Ophtalmologique Adolphe de Rothschild, 75019 Paris, France
Author contributions: Mauget-Faÿse M designed the study; Mateo-Montoya A performed the research and wrote the paper; Mauget-Faÿse M and Mateo-Montoya A reviewed the paper and approved it.
Correspondence to: Aránzazu Mateo-Montoya, MD, Ophthalmology Service, Fondation Ophtalmologique Adolphe de Rothschild, 25 rue Manin, 75019 Paris, France. arancha.mateo@gmail.com
Telephone: +33-148-036671 Fax: +33-148-036523
Received: January 26, 2014
Revised: May 4, 2014
Accepted: May 28, 2014
Published online: August 15, 2014
Abstract

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a Gram-negative bacterium, is one of the most frequent causes of gastrointestinal infections worldwide. It has been associated as a pathogen for the human body with many systemic diseases, including different eye diseases. We will focus on a specific eye disease called idiopathic central serous chorioretinopathy (ICSCR). This disease is characterized by a serous detachment of the neurosensory retina in the macular region, which affects the vision to different degrees. Currently, the pathophysiology of ICSCR is not clear and there is no effective treatment. However, several potential risk factors have been elucidated. One of the factors that has more frequently been associated with ICSCR is stress. As H. pylori was identified as a possible etiological factor for occlusive arterial diseases in young people who were particularly stressed, it was thought that H. pylori might also be present in ICSCR. Therefore, some physicians started to test its presence in patents with ICSCR. If H. pylori happened to be associated with ICSCR, the treatment of gastrointestinal infection could also improve visual symptoms and help to remediate this eye disease. Although H. pylori is highly prevalent in the general population, a true correlation seems to exist. We present a review on the relationship between ICSCR and H. pylori.

Keywords: Helicobacter pylori, Idiopathic central serous chorioretinopathy, Retina, Eye disease, Occlusive arterial disease

Core tip:Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) has been associated with many systemic diseases. We focus on a specific eye disease called idiopathic central serous chorioretinopathy (ICSCR), which is characterized by a serous detachment of the neurosensory retina in the macular region and affects vision to different degrees. One factor frequently associated with ICSCR is stress. As H. pylori was identified as a possible etiological factor for occlusive arterial diseases in young people who were particularly stressed, it was thought that H. pylori might also be present in ICSCR. We present a review on the relationship between ICSCR and H. pylori.