Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric function in primary autonomic neuropathy

Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection in diabetic patients has been related to impaired gastric clearance of bacteria due to autonomic neuropathy. Gastrointestinal dysfunction has been described in primary autonomic failure (AF). The aim of the study was to evaluate, for the first time, the presence of Hp infection and gastric function in patients with primary AF. Twelve patients with primary AF (aged 58–78), 31 healthy controls (aged 48–75) and 31 patients affected by type 2 diabetes (aged 46–75) were studied. A ¹³C-urea breath test was performed to assess the presence of Hp infection. To evaluate gastric function, AF patients underwent two non-invasive tests: 1) ¹³C-octanoic acid breath test (OBT) to evaluate gastric emptying, and 2) electrogastrogram (EGG) to evaluate gastric electrical activity. Hp infection was found in 100 % of AF patients, in 48 % of controls and in 71 % of diabetic patients (p = 0.02 between groups). Electrical or mechanical gastric function was altered in 50 % of AF patients. In particular, 1) after OBT, half-time gastric emptying was delayed in 6 out of 12 patients, and 2) EGG showed the presence of gastric dysrhythmias in 6 out of 12 patients. In conclusion, Hp infection was detected in all AF patients studied; as previously demonstrated in diabetes, such a finding might be related to autonomic neuropathy causing mechanical or electrical gastric dysfunction. Hp detection might be important for the gastrointestinal and extradigestive complications of such infection. Received: 4 August 2001, Accepted: 11 March 2002