Impact of infection by Helicobacter pylori on the risk and severity of endemic cholera.

To evaluate the relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and the subsequent risk and severity of endemic Vibrio cholerae O1 diarrhea among rural Bangladeshis, 285 children and adults with cholera (cases) and 881 contemporaneously selected community controls were studied. Cases and controls were contrasted for H. pylori infection, as manifested by serum IgG anti-H. pylori antibodies. Although the overall risk of cholera was not significantly increased among H. pylori-infected subjects, the risk of cholera of life-threatening severity was significantly elevated (relative risk [RR] = 1.61; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.07-2.42). A significant increase in the risk of severe cholera was seen in subjects who lacked natural serum vibriocidal antibodies (RR = 2.88; 95% CI = 1.28-6.48) but not in those with such antibodies. Thus, H. pylori infection was associated with a significant increase in the risk of life-threatening cholera, but only among persons lacking natural vibriocidal immunity.