Impact of Helicobacter pylori Infection on Gastric Variceal Bleeding among Patients with Liver Cirrhosis

Abstract

Background and Aims. Currently, it is well known that Helicobacter pylori- (H. pylori-) related peptic ulcer is one of the main causes of nonvariceal bleeding in cirrhotic patients. However, there is a lack of data to identify the exact effect ofH. pyloriinfection on variceal bleeding. This study was conducted to identify the impact ofH. pyloriinfection on gastric variceal bleeding in cirrhotic patients.Patients and Methods. 76 cirrhotic patients with gastric varices were included in this prospective study and divided into 2 groups: nonbleeding gastric varices (32 patients) and bleeding gastric varices (44 patients). The fasting serum gastrin level was measured. Mucosal biopsies from the gastric body and antrum were examined to determine the patterns of gastritis and the presence ofH. pylori.Results. The frequency ofH. pyloriinfection in the studied patients was 59.2%. There were significant differences between both groups regarding liver decompensation (P=0.001), red color sign over gastric varices (P=0.0011), prevalence ofH. pyloriinfection (P=0.0049), histological patterns of gastritis (P=0.0069), and serum gastrin level (P=0.0200). By multivariate analysis, Child C cirrhosis, red color sign over gastric varices, andH. pylori-induced follicular gastritis were independent risk factors for bleeding from gastric varices.Conclusion.H. pylori-induced follicular gastritis is considered as an additional risk factor for bleeding from gastric varices.