Severity Of Rheumatoid Arthritis Not Influenced By Helicobacter Pylori Infection

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Severity Of Rheumatoid Arthritis Not Influenced By Helicobacter Pylori Infection

A DGReview of : " Helicobacter pylori infection in rheumatoid arthritis: effect of

drugs on prevalence and correlation with gastroduodenal lesions "

Rheumatology Online

01/18/2002

By

Severity of rheumatoid arthritis does not appear to be affected by Helicobacter

pylori infection.

This study compared the clinical features and gastroduodenal lesions of

rheumatoid arthritis patients with and without Helicobacter pylori infection.

A total of 184 rheumatoid arthritis patients were tested for the infection.

Seventy-one were found negative and 113 were positive.

Comparisons revealed that both groups were not significantly different in age,

severity of rheumatoid arthritis, prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms,

presence of gastroduodenal lesions and class of gastroprotective drugs. Reflux

oesophagitis was less frequent in the group that was positive for Helicobacter

pylori, however.

Sulphasalazine was administered less frequently to those in the Helicobacter

pylori-positive group. The investigators suggest, " Sulphasalazine may be

protective against H. pylori infection. "

Overall, they conclude that severity of rheumatoid arthritis and prevalence of

gastroduodenal lesions other than reflux oesophagitis do not depend on

Helicobacter pylori infection.

This work was done by investigators from the Department of Medicine and Clinical

Science of the Graduate School of Medical Sciences at Kyushu University in

Fukuoka and the Centre for Rheumatic Diseases at Matsuyama Red Cross Hospital in

Ehime, Japan.

Rheumatology 2002; 41: 72-77. " Helicobacter pylori infection in rheumatoid

arthritis: effect of drugs on prevalence and correlation with gastroduodenal

lesions "