Lack of association between seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection and primary biliary cirrhosis

AIM: To determine the association between seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). METHODS: In this case-control study, 149 consecutive patients (10 males, 139 females, mean age 58.2+/-11 years, range 26-82 years) suffering from PBC and 619 consecutive healthy volunteer blood donors (523 males, 96 females, mean age 47+/-5.3 years, range 18-65 years) attending the Hospital Blood Bank and residing in the same area were recruited. A commercial enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect anti-H pylori (IgG) antibodies in serum. RESULTS: Antibodies to H pylori were present in 78 (52.3%) out of 149 PBC-patients and in 291 (47%) out of 619 volunteers (P = 0.24, OR 1.24, 95% CI 0.85-1.80). In the subjects less than 60 years old, the prevalence of H pylori infection among PBC-patients (40/79) was slightly higher than in controls (50.6% vs 46.2%) P = 0.46, OR = 1.19, 95% CI: 0.72-1.95). In those over 60 years, the prevalence of H pylori infection was similar between PBC-patients and controls (54.2% vs 57.8%, P = 0.7, OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.36-2.07). CONCLUSION: There is no association between seroprevalence of H pylori infection and primary biliary cirrhosis.