Role of Lewis A and Lewis B blood group antigens in Helicobacter pylori infection

Abstract

Background and aims: We investigated the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in a large group of women to determine whether there was an association of current infection status with Lewis blood group antigen A and B phenotype.

Methods: Between November 2000 and November 2001, mothers were recruited after delivery of their offspring at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at the University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany. The H. pylori infection status of the women was determined by 13C urea breath test. Their Lewis A and Lewis B phenotype was determined using standard laboratory techniques.

Results: In total, 22.2% of the 712 women included in the study (mean age 30.7 years) had a current H. pylori infection. The prevalence of infection varied from 15.5% in women of German nationality to 75.0% in women of Turkish nationality (p < .001). Most women (68.1%) had a Le(a-b+) phenotype. The prevalence of H. pylori infection in women with Le(a-b+) phenotypes was lower than in other women (p = .02). In multivariate analysis, the odds ratio (OR) for a current H. pylori infection given Le(a-b+) was 0.56 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.33-0.95] compared to women with Le(a-b-).

Conclusion: Le(a-b+) blood group phenotype in combination with secretor status may hinder colonization of H. pylori in the population studied.