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High Prevalence of Cag‐A Positive H. pylori Strains in Ischemic Stroke: A Primary Care Multicenter Study
Author(s) -
De Bastiani Rudy,
Gabrielli Maurizio,
Ubaldi Enzo,
Benedetto Edoardo,
Sanna Guido,
Cottone Carmelo,
Candelli Marcello,
Zocco Maria Assunta,
Saulnier Nathalie,
Santoliquido Angelo,
Papaleo Pierangelo,
Gasbarrini Giovanni,
Gasbarrini Antonio
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
helicobacter
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.206
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1523-5378
pISSN - 1083-4389
DOI - 10.1111/j.1523-5378.2008.00610.x
Subject(s) - caga , medicine , stroke (engine) , odds ratio , confidence interval , helicobacter pylori , serology , gastroenterology , immunology , antibody , mechanical engineering , biochemistry , chemistry , virulence , engineering , gene
Background: Previous studies suggested an association between CagA‐positive H. pylori strains and ischemic stroke. The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection and CagA status in patients with atherosclerotic stroke in the primary care setting. Materials and methods: A total of 106 consecutive patients (age 76.6 ± 8 years; males 52%) with well‐documented history of atherosclerotic stroke and 106 sex–age‐ (age 76.5 ± 9 years; males 52%) and social background‐matched controls without relevant vascular diseases. Risk factors for ischemic stroke were recorded in all subjects. H. pylori infection was assessed by[13]C‐urea breath test. A serologic assay for specific IgG against CagA was performed in infected subjects. Results: A trend toward a higher prevalence of H. pylori was observed in cases (63%) with respect to controls (54%) without reaching a statistical significance. CagA positivity was associated to a higher risk of atherosclerotic stroke (adjusted odds ratio 2.69, 95% confidence interval 1.37–5.30). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that CagA‐positive strains of H. pylori are significantly associated to atherosclerotic stroke. This is not a merely confirmative study since it has been performed for the first time in the primary care setting and included only subjects with an active infection.