Helicobacter pylori vs coronary heart disease - searching for connections

Core Tip

Core tip:Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a Gram-negative spiral bacterium which colonizes gastric mucosa of nearly half of human population. A characteristic feature of H. pylori infection is an excessive inflammatory response. The majority of H. pylori infections remain asymptomatic. However, still it leads to the development of histological gastritis with the recruitment of immune cells. About 10% of infected subjects develop symptomatic gastritis, erosions or peptic ulcer. Gastric cancer is the most severe consequence of H. pylori infection. Recently, a possible association between chronic infections with H. pylori and extragastric disorders - including coronary heart disease, has been intensively investigated. Here we have revised recent studies confirming or excluding possible connections between chronic bacterial infections and the occurrence of coronary heart disease (CHD) within different populations, especially in the context of H. pylori infections. We have also presented various study approaches investigating direct and indirect interplay between H. pylori-driven consequences and CHD development to clarify already gained knowledge and suggest future directions. Considering the significance of already conducted research studies, the involvement of H. pylori infection in the process of CHD development is highly probably, however, still a lot need to be done to clarify whether this association is direct (with the involvement of H. pylori antigens and products) or indirect (with the involvement of inflammatory-related molecules accelerating/initiating CHD development).