Abstract

Objective: C-reactive protein (CRP) is a protein found in the blood, the levels of which rise in response to inflammation. Its physiological role is to bind to phosphocholine expressed on the surface of dead or dying cells. In this study we aimed to examine the association between Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) infection and serum levels of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP).
Background: Recently, many studies have suggested that there is an association between H.pylori infection and serum high levels of hs-CRP.
Subjects: 200 subjects with H.pylori infection (128 male, 72 female) aged 40-68 years (mean 49 years) and 50 healthy control subjects (36 male, 14 female) aged 35-70 years (mean 52.5 years) were included in this study. Blood samples were collected to determine serum hs-CRP.
Results: The mean serum level of hs-CRP in patients with H.pylori infection subjects (0.048±0.005 mg/dl) was significantly higher than in healthy control subjects (0.037±0.003 mg/dl). Serum level of hs-CRP was high in 24% of patients group, while it was high in 12% of healthy group. No significant differences were shown among H.pylori infected subjects and healthy subjects regarding to age, sex, smoking, body mass index, and socio-economic status.
Conclusion: Serum hs-CPR levels were higher in H.pylori infected patients, based on these results serum hs-CRP could be affected by H.pylori infection.


Key words: Helicobacter pylori, C-reactive protein, inflammation, body mass index.