Premium
Increased thrombin generation and circulating levels of tumour necrosis factor‐ α in patients with chronic Helicobacter pylori ‐positive gastritis
Author(s) -
Consolazio A.,
Borgia M. C.,
Ferro D.,
Iacopini F.,
Paoluzi O. A.,
Crispino P.,
Nardi F.,
Rivera M.,
Paoluzi P.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
alimentary pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.308
H-Index - 177
eISSN - 1365-2036
pISSN - 0269-2813
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2004.02074.x
Subject(s) - helicobacter pylori , medicine , gastritis , gastroenterology , necrosis , tumor necrosis factor alpha , immunology , spirillaceae
Summary Background : Conflicting data have been reported concerning the relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and coronary heart disease. Aim : To evaluate clotting system activation and plasma levels of tumour necrosis factor‐ α , a procoagulant cytokine, in patients with H. pylori ‐positive and ‐negative gastritis. Methods : Three groups of patients were identified: 38 with H. pylori ‐positive gastritis, 18 with H. pylori ‐negative gastritis, and 40 H. pylori ‐negative controls with normal gastric mucosa. Plasma levels of prothrombin fragment 1 + 2 (F1 + 2) and tumour necrosis factor‐ α were assayed. Patients were also controlled after 2 and 6 months following standard H. pylori eradication treatment. Results : At baseline, fragment 1 + 2 and tumour necrosis factor‐ α levels in H. pylori ‐positive patients were significantly higher than those in H. pylori ‐negative patients with gastritis ( P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). After H. pylori eradication, fragment 1 + 2 and tumour necrosis factor‐ α levels showed a significant decrease at 2 months ( P = 0.03 and P = 0.02, respectively) and a further reduction at 6 months, reaching levels observed in H. pylori ‐negative patients and controls. Conclusions : The increase thrombin generation rate and the correlation of plasma fragment 1 + 2 and tumour necrosis factor‐ α levels in H. pylori ‐positive patients suggest a role for inflammation in mediating the relationship between H. pylori infection and activation of the clotting system.