helicobacter pylori infection and atherosclerosis: a systematic review.

helicobacter pylori (h. pylori) is a spiral-shaped gram negative bacterium that naturally colonizes the human gastric epithelium. in recent years, large evidence has come to the literature strongly proposing causal link between h. pylori and extra gastric disorders. cardiovascular system is one of the extra gastric organs that can be affected by h. pylori infection. the first evidence suggestive of such an association comes from seroepidemiological evaluations, but histopathological and eradication studies have strongly confirmed existence of a causal association between h. pylori infection and cardiovascular events.