High seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with systemic sclerosis: association with esophageal involvement.

Abstract

To determine the prevalence and clinical relevance of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Serum samples were obtained from 124 patients with SSc (67 with limited cutaneous SSc, 57 with diffuse cutaneous SSc). Fifty samples from age and sex matched individuals were used as controls. IgG antibodies to H. pylori infection were measured by ELISA. IgG antibodies to H. pylori were found in 55.6% (69 of 124) of the patients with SSc, significantly more than in the controls. There was a significant correlation of the presence of antibodies to H. pylori with the prevalence of esophageal hypomotility in the patients with SSc (p < 0.02). Patients with SSc have H. pylori infection at a higher prevalence than the general population. H. pylori might play a role in the development of esophageal dysfunction in SSc.