Endothelial dysfunction in acute coronary syndrome without ST segment elevation in the presence of Helicobacter pylori infection

Abstract

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is one of the most common chronic infections in humans. While a causative relationship between H. pylori infection and several gastrointestinal disorders has been well established, the association between this condition and the development of atherosclerosis and coronary artery diseases (CAD) is less clear.

Aim: To examine the relationship between H. pylori infection and endothelial function in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) without ST segment elevation.

Methods: The study group consisted of 31 patients (17 males aged 38-78 years and 14 females aged 45-80 years) with ACS and without ST segment elevation in whom we measured antibodies to H. pylori and haemostatic factors indicating endothelial function, such as von Willebrand factor (vWF), thrombomodulin (TM), tissue plasmin activator (tPA:Ag), tPA inhibitor (PAI-1:Ag) and fibrinogen.

Results: The proportion of patients with H. pylori seropositivity was 93.5%. No significant relationship between parameters of endothelial function and IgG antibodies to H. pylori were found. There was a significant association between antibodies to p54 protein and vWF (p=0.027) and between antibodies to p33 protein and PAI:Ag concentration (p=0.019).

Conclusions: These results suggest that the type of H. pylori antigens and antibodies to these antigens rather than the presence of IgG antibodies to H. pylori may play a role in the development of CAD.