The effect of virulent helicobacter pylori eradication on serum lipid and lipoprotein levels

The Effect of Virulent Helicobacter Pylori Eradication on SerumLipid and Lipoprotein LevelsM. Emre Durakoglugil, MDThe fact that Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with modified lipid profile,especially lower HDL cholesterol levels, is widely known. It is reasonable that CagA positivestrains with increased inflammation would further deteriorate lipids levels. Therefore weconducted a study to evaluate the effect of helicobacter pylori eradication on serum lipidlevels and apolipoproteins and to reveal whether it is related with CagA status. To ourknowledge this is the first study investigating this matter.41 patients with positive rapid urease test results (28 female, 13 male) were enrolled inthe study. Serum lipids, apolipoproteins, lipoprotein(a) and CagA levels were analyzed at thebeginning and 3 months after eradication therapy. According to urea breath test, patients withsuccessful eradication formed Group I and those in whom eradication was unsuccessfulformed Group II. Serum lipid levels did not change significantly in Group II and in Group Iexcept Apolipoprotein AI levels of which increased 7.8 mg/dl after treatment (p=0,003). 14(34%) patients were CagA positive. CagA negative but not CagA positive patients wereassociated with increased Apolipoprotein AI levels when CagA status is taken into account.Our study showed that CagA status does not seem to be a virulence marker for lipidprofile changes as thought. Eradication of helicobacter pylori may provide extragastric gainssuch as decreased atherosclerosis risk by increases in apolipoprotein AI levels.Key words: Helicobacter, eradication, lipid profile, apolipoproteins, CagA