Helicobacter pylori infection and coagulation in healthy people

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Abstract
Initially, 368 consecutive asymptomatic blood donors (unpaid volunteers) were recruited for this study. Exclusion criteria were age >51 years, any chronic drug treatment, recent intake of drugs interfering with blood coagulation, use of oral contraceptives, previous treatment for H pylori infection, pregnancy or breast feeding, and previous diagnosis of ischaemic heart disease, peptic ulcer, or any systemic chronic illness. Dietary habits, alcohol and cigarette consumption, and socioeconomic status were determined. A total of 300 subjects (229 men) aged 20-51 (mean 34.7) years fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were enrolled into the study. A resting venous blood sample was taken in all subjects and was analysed for concentrations of total cholesterol, C reactive protein, plasma fibrinogen, factor VII C, and haemoglobin; erythrocyte sedimentation rate; prothrombin time; partial thromboplastin time; and platelet and leucocyte count. Prothrombin cleavage fragment (factors I and II), an index of prothrombin activation,5 was also assayed. IgG antibodies specific to H pylori were determined by using a commercial ELISA kit (Helori test, Eurospital, Trieste, Italy); a cut off value of 19% was used, based on previous analysis of 200 patients (sensitivity compared with histology, 92%; specificity, 94%). Student's t test and the χ2 test were used to compare characteristics of subjects and values of haemostatic factors in subjects with and without H pylori infection; multiple regression was used to assess the effects of covariates.

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