Helicobacter pylori CagA seropositivity does not influence inflammatory parameters, lipid concentrations and haemostatic factors in healthy individuals

Background. H. pylori CagA seropositivity has been recently associated with ischaemic heart disease. Objective. To evaluate whether H. pylori virulence has any effect on certai n circulating coagulation factors and on markers of systemic inflammation i n healthy individuals. Design. Prospective cohort study. Setting. Haematology and gastroenterology unit at a university teaching hos pital. Subjects. A total of 494 consecutive asymptomatic blood donors attending a blood bank. Measurements. Blood analysis for haemostatic factors, lipids concentrations , inflammatory parameters as well as determination of anti H. pylori IgG an d CagA reactivity by ELISA assayes. Results. The overall prevalence of H. pylori infection was 53%; 56% of H. p ylori positive sera expressed CagA reactivity. CagA seropositive subjects d id not differ significantly from CagA negative or H. pylori negative subjec ts in values for lipids, haemostatic factors, or inflammatory parameters. Conclusions. CagA seropositivity is not associated with increased systemic inflammation or with raised concentrations of haemostatic factors - predict ors of ischaemic heart disease - in healthy individuals.