BACKGROUND AND AIM: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria convert urea to ammonia, which has been implicated in causation of hepatic encephalopathy in patients with liver cirrhosis. The role of H. pylori infection in causation of minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) has not been well studied. We looked at the relationship of H. pylori infection with MHE and hyperammonemia in patients with liver cirrhosis and the effects of anti-H. pylori treatment in patients with MHE and H. pylori infection. METHODS: Patients with liver cirrhosis underwent psychometric tests for detection of MHE, rapid urease test to look for evidence of H. pylori infection and measurement of fasting blood ammonia levels. Patients with MHE were treated with triple-drug anti-H. pylori treatment for one week. Rapid urease test, blood ammonia levels, and psychometric tests were repeated four weeks after treatment. RESULTS: H. pylori infection was found more often in patients with MHE (63%) than in those without MHE (37%). Blood ammonia levels were significantly higher in patients with MHE than those without. After H. pylori treatment in patients with MHE, blood ammonia levels showed a significant decline and psychometric test results returned towards normal. CONCLUSION: In patients with liver cirrhosis, there is a significant association between H. pylori infection and MHE. Anti-H. pylori therapy results in reduction in blood ammonia levels and improvement in MHE.
BACKGROUND AND AIM: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria convert urea to ammonia, which has been implicated in causation of hepatic encephalopathy in patients with liver cirrhosis. The role of H. pyloriinfection in causation of minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) has not been well studied. We looked at the relationship of H. pyloriinfection with MHE and hyperammonemia in patients with liver cirrhosis and the effects of anti-H. pylori treatment in patients with MHE and H. pyloriinfection. METHODS:Patients with liver cirrhosis underwent psychometric tests for detection of MHE, rapid urease test to look for evidence of H. pyloriinfection and measurement of fasting blood ammonia levels. Patients with MHE were treated with triple-drug anti-H. pylori treatment for one week. Rapid urease test, blood ammonia levels, and psychometric tests were repeated four weeks after treatment. RESULTS:H. pyloriinfection was found more often in patients with MHE (63%) than in those without MHE (37%). Blood ammonia levels were significantly higher in patients with MHE than those without. After H. pylori treatment in patients with MHE, blood ammonia levels showed a significant decline and psychometric test results returned towards normal. CONCLUSION: In patients with liver cirrhosis, there is a significant association between H. pyloriinfection and MHE. Anti-H. pylori therapy results in reduction in blood ammonia levels and improvement in MHE.
Authors: A Watanabe; T Sakai; S Sato; F Imai; M Ohto; Y Arakawa; G Toda; K Kobayashi; Y Muto; T Tsujii; H Kawasaki; K Okita; K Tanikawa; S Fujiyama; S Shimada Journal: Hepatology Date: 1997-12 Impact factor: 17.425
Authors: C Vásconez; J I Elizalde; J Llach; A Ginès; C de la Rosa; R M Fernández; A Mas; J Santamaría; J M Bordas; J M Piqué; J Terés Journal: J Hepatol Date: 1999-02 Impact factor: 25.083
Authors: G P Gubbins; T E Moritz; L S Marsano; R Talwalkar; C J McClain; C L Mendenhall Journal: Am J Gastroenterol Date: 1993-11 Impact factor: 10.864
Authors: Segundo Moran; Marlene López-Sánchez; María Del Pilar Milke-García; Gustavo Rodríguez-Leal Journal: World J Gastroenterol Date: 2021-06-14 Impact factor: 5.742