The prevalence and cytotoxicity of Helicobacter pylori species in patients with peptic ulcer disease and food allergy

Introduction: The relationship between food allergy and Helicobacter pylori infection, especially cytotoxic species with vacA and cagA genes, in pathogenesis of peptic ulcer disease is still unknown. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and cytotoxicity of H. pylori species in patients with peptic ulcer disease and food allergy compared to patients with peptic ulcer disease without food allergy. Material and methods: 40 patients took part in the study – 18 women and 22 men aged 22-72 years (41 years) – divided into 2 groups. The study group consisted of 21 patients – 10 women and 11 men aged 22-68 years (41 years) – with food allergy. The control group consisted of 19 patients – 8 women and 11 men aged 28-72 years (42 years) – without food allergy. In all patients endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract was obtained. In gastric mucosa biopsies colonization of H. pylori species was assessed and presence of vacA and cagA genes of H. pylori was assessed by PCR method. Results: H. pylori colonization was recognized in 13 (61.9%) patients in the study group and in 16 (84.2%) patients in the control group. Cytotoxic species of H. pylori were recognized in 4 (30.7%) patients of the study group with colonization and in 5 (31.3%) patients of the control group with colonization. Conclusions: The prevalence of cytotoxic species of H. pylori with vacA and cagA genes was not significantly different between these two groups of patients.