Zahra Eslamian - Radiology Specialist, Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Ali-Ibn Abi-Talib Educational and Tretment Hospital, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran
Farahmand - Radiology Specialist, Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Ali-Ibn Abi-Talib Educational and Tretment Hospital, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran
Sajjad Rezvan - Radiology, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran.
Afshin Tahmasbi - Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Ali-Ibn Abi-Talib Educational and Treatment Hospital, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
Zahra Kamyab - Clinical Research Development Unit, School of Medicine, Ali-Ibn Abi-Talib Educational and Treatment Hospital, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
Mohammad-Hossein Mokhtarian - Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Garmsar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Garmsar, Iran.

Background and Aim: 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 (CIMT) 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 conducted to investigate the relationship between H. pylori infection and CIMT. We compared IMT in infected and non-infected patients with H. pylori in the present study. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was performed on ۶۸ patients undergoing endoscopy in the gastrointestinal ward of Ali Ibn Abi Talib Hospital in Rafsanjan City, Iran, from ۲۰۲۰ to ۲۰۲۱. The sampling method was convenience 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 H. pylori. Patients’ demographic information and serum C-reactive protein (CPR) level were extracted from the patients’ files and entered into a pre-designed checklist. Then, the CIMT 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 H. pylori, no significant difference was observed between the mean age (P=۰.۲۱۵), body mass index (P=۰.۰۷۴), gender (P=۱), smoking (P=۰.۷۷۹) and family history (P=۰.۸۰۱). However, the mean level of CPR (P=۰.۰۰۷) and CIMT (P=۰.۰۲۳) in patients infected with H. pylori were significantly different from those not infected with H. pylori and patients infected with H. pylori showed significantly higher values of CRP and CIMT. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that patients infected with H. pylori are more prone to increased CIMT than non-infected individuals with H. pylori, which may be associated with increased CRP as an inflammatory marker in the inflammatory pathway.

Atherosclerosis, Helicobacter pylori, Carotid arteries, Carotid intima-media thickness