The Association between Acute Myocardial Infarction and Anti Helicobacter Pylori Antibody

Myocardial infarction (MI) is one of the most common causes of hospitalization of patients in western countries. Recently, the role of infectious factors such as Helicobacter pylori as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease has been suggested. This study was conducted to determine whether previous exposure to H. pylori is associated with an increased risk for myocardial infarction.

This case-control study was performed on 100 hospitalized patients (50 cases and 50 controls) in Shahid Beheshti hospital of Kashan in 2006. Three milliliter blood was obtained from each of 50 survivors of acute myocardial infarction (case) and 50 controls with no history of coronary heart disease and then Anti H. pylori antibody was examined by ELISA. Using chi-square and Fisher exact test the results were analyzed and P value less then 0.05 was considered significant.

Nine patients (18%) were seronegative, 5(10%) borderline and 36(72%) seropositive for Anti-H.plyori antibodies in case group, where as in controls these proportions were 14(28%), 10(20%) and 26(52%), respectively. No significant association was noted between H pylori seropositivity and risk of MI (P value=0.11).The mean of titer of antibody was 22.6 ±19.8 in controls and 35.9±31.8 in cases and there was significant correlation between them (P value<0.001).

This study revealed no association between MI and H. pylori seropositivity. To show a causal association, very large randomized trials would be needed.