Role of Helicobacter pylori in extradigestive diseases

In the last year, several studies have been carried out on the association between Helicobacter pylori infection and various extragastroduodenal disea ses, including cardiovascular, immunological and miscellaneous other pathol ogies. The correlation between H. pylori and cardiovascular diseases appear s to remain contentious, while association with some autoimmune diseases is supported by growing evidence. Finally, various Helicobacter species have been detected in the liver and bile; this important finding could lead to a revision of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to various idiopathic di seases of the hepato-biliary tract, Curr Opin Gastroenterol 15 (suppl 1):S2 9-S33 (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.