The Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) infection leads to intensification of symptoms and calenture of autoimmune diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between H. pylori infection and clinical outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.
This study was performed on 100 RA patients. Blood samples were collected for measuring Anti-H. pylori IgG antibodies and cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA) protein. Fresh fecal samples were also collected and the fecal H. pylori antigen was extracted. Clinical condition as well as severity and type of RA symptoms in both groups of H. pylori positive and H. pylori negative were also compared.
Serum levels of rheumatoid factor (RF), ESR, CRP, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (Anti-CCP), and anti-mutated citrullinated vimentin (Anti-MCV) were significantly higher in H. pylori positive patients than in H. pylori negative patients (P < 0.05). Serum RF, ESR, CRP and Anti-MCV levels were significantly higher in CagA positive patients than in CagA negative patients (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in DAS-28 scores between H. pylori positive and H. pylori negative patients (P = 0.064) as well as between patients with positive and negative fecal H. pylori antigen (P = 0.237). However, DAS-28 score was significantly higher in CagA positive patients than in CagA negative patients (P < 0.001). Furthermore, mean VAS score was significantly higher in H. pylori positive patients (P = 0.031) and CagA positive patients (P = 0.004); however, there were no significant differences in VAS scores between patients with positive and negative fecal H. pylori antigen (P = 0.310).
Follow-up and examination of RA patients in terms of infection with serum and fecal H. pylori organism and CagA seems necessary that will contribute to better and further control and treatment of the patients.