Evaluation of Carotid artery intima-media thickness in the patients with and without Helicobacter pylori infection

Background & Purpose: Bacterial infections can stimulate immune responses, directly or indirectly, mainly by interacting with inflammatory and immune pathways, which negatively affect cardiovascular risk factors. The severity of Helicobacter pylori infection can be an essential determinant of its atherogenic potential. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) is a quantitative ultrasound-based parameter that may predict a subclinical atherosclerotic disease in an individual. Considering the previous studies and lack of accurate known etiology for atherosclerosis and the high prevalence of this infection in growing communities, particularly in Iran, this study was designed to investigate the relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and the intima-media thickness of the carotid artery. We compared IMT in infected and non-infected patients with Helicobacter pylori in the present study. Methods & Materials: This descriptive study was performed on ۶۸ patients undergoing endoscopy in the gastrointestinal ward of Ali Ibn Abi Talib Hospital in Rafsanjan from ۲۰۲۰ to ۲۰۲۱. The sampling method was convenient sampling. After selecting eligible patients, a biopsy specimen was taken from the antrum and gastric mucosa during endoscopy. Based on the rapid urease test results, patients were divided into two equal groups (n = ۳۴) infected and non-infected with Helicobacter pylori. Patients' demographic information and serum CRP level were extracted from the patients' files and entered into a pre-designed checklist. Then the IMT of the carotid artery was measured by a radiologist using a GE Voluson E۶ color Doppler ultrasound machine. Data were collected and analyzed in SPSS software version ۲۲. A significance level of ۵% was considered. Results: In infected and non-infected patients with Helicobacter pylori considering mean age (p=۰.۲۱۵), body mass index (p=۰.۰۷۴), gender (p=۱), smoking (p=۰.۷۷۹) and family history (p=۰.۸۰۱) there was no significant difference. However, the mean level of C-reactive protein (CRP) (p= ۰.۰۰۷) and IMT of the carotid artery (p=۰.۰۲۳) in patients infected with Helicobacter pylori were significantly different from those not infected with Helicobacter pylori so that patients infected with Helicobacter pylori showed significantly higher values of CRP and IMT. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that patients infected with Helicobacter pylori are more prone to increased carotid IMT than non-infected individuals with Helicobacter pylori, which may be associated with increased CRP as an inflammatory marker in the inflammatory pathway.

کلیدواژه ها:

Atherosclerosis ، Helicobacter pylori ، Carotid artery intima-media thickness