Helicobacter pylori infection and ischaemic heart disease

Helicobacter pylori infection is probably one of the most widely spread inf ectious diseases in man and a growing body of knowledge provides evidence i n favour of a causal link between this infection and the majority of upper gastrointestinal conditions. For example, we now know that peptic ulcer dis ease is an infectious disease; if the infection is diagnosed and treated, u lcer can be cured. On the other hand, in recent years, a number of epidemio logical studies have focuses on the possible relation between ischaemic hea rt disease and several infectious disorders, such as chronic dental infecti ons, Cytomegalovirus, Coxsackie viruses. Chlamydia and, finally Helicobacte r pylori. The results of studies on the association between ischaemic heart disease and Helicobacter pylori have, in particular, often been contradict ory, and only some studies adjusted the results for confounding factors, an d the adjustment of the results in some cases modified the association. In conclusion, even if coronary atheorsclerosis may now be considered as an in flammatory process, according to several histologic and pathophysiologic st udies, we cannot, for the moment, be sure that it is an infectious disease.