Helicobacter pylori infection and serum homocysteine in hemodialysis patient

Hyperhomocysteinemia is a factor that is found to be responsible for the development of atherosclerosis in the setting of chronic Helicobacter pylori (H. Pylori) infection. In the recent years, homocysteine (Hcy) has been demonstrated to be an important contributor to atherosclerosis. This study was undertaken to elucidate whether in patients with uremia on maintenance hemodialysis (HD), the infection of H. pylori affects the levels of Hcy. he patients were 39 HD ones with mean ages of 46±18 years. The time of hemodialysis were 30± (35) months (median: 18 months). The value of serum Hcy of all patients was 5 (±2) μmol/L (median: 4.5 μmol/L). The value of serum H. Pylori specific IgG antibody titers was 7.6 (±9.9) u/ml (median: 2 u/ml). In this study a positive correlation was found between serum homocysteine and H. Pylori infection. As elevation of serum Hcy is observed in the great majority (>85%) of patients undergoing maintenance dialysis, further research is needed to determine the importance of association between elevated serum homocysteine and H. Pylori infection. Furthermore, whether or not the treatment of H. pylori infection in HD patients can diminish serum homocysteine level should be elucidated. [Mahmoud Rafiean-Kopaei, Azar Baradaran, Ahmad-Reza Maghsoudi, Shamin Ghobadi and Hamid Nasri. Helicobacter pylori infection and serum homocysteine in hemodialysis patient. Life Sci J 2012;9(4):36963702]. (ISSN: 1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com. 548