Helicobacter pylori infection and endocrine disorders: is there a link?

World J Gastroenterol. 2009 Jun 14;15(22):2701-7. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.2701.

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection is a leading world-wide infectious disease as it affects more than half of the world population and causes chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease and gastric malignancies. The infection elicits a chronic cellular inflammatory response in the gastric mucosa. However, the effects of this local inflammation may not be confined solely to the digestive tract but may spread to involve extra-intestinal tissues and/or organs. Indeed, H pylori infection has been epidemiologically linked to extra-digestive conditions and diseases. In this context, it has been speculated that H pylori infection may be responsible for various endocrine disorders, such as autoimmune thyroid diseases, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, obesity, osteoporosis and primary hyperparathyroidism. This is a review of the relationship between H pylori infection and these endocrine disorders.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Diabetes Mellitus / microbiology
  • Diabetes Mellitus / physiopathology
  • Dyslipidemias / microbiology
  • Dyslipidemias / physiopathology
  • Endocrine System Diseases* / microbiology
  • Endocrine System Diseases* / physiopathology
  • Helicobacter Infections / physiopathology*
  • Helicobacter pylori / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Hyperparathyroidism / microbiology
  • Hyperparathyroidism / physiopathology
  • Obesity / microbiology
  • Obesity / physiopathology
  • Osteoporosis / microbiology
  • Osteoporosis / physiopathology
  • Thyroid Diseases / microbiology
  • Thyroid Diseases / physiopathology