Molecular screening of Helicobacter pylori among Egyptian patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis

Background: Globally Helicobacter Pylori (H. Pylori) infection and liver diseases are renowned with their high incidence rate. Recent studies have observed the relation between H. Pylori infection and liver disease progression to cirrhosis. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of H. pylori in liver cirrhotic patients. Patient and Methods: This study was conducted on 100 liver cirrhotic patients to detect H. Pylori infection based on UreA gene detection in ascites using nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR). Biochemical analysis was performed on ascitic fluid, serum, complete blood count (CBC), and polymorph nuclear leukocytes count (PMN). Result: H. Pylori infection was detected in 75% of patients with liver cirrhosis. In ascitic fluid, H. pylori infection showed a highly significant association with albumin and PMN (P=0.0001) and also with other biochemical analyses including serum ascites albumin gradient (SAAG), specific gravity, and glucose (P=0.005, 0.0031, and 0.02, respectively). In serum only, the infection showed significant association with alkaline phosphatase, albumin, and hemoglobin with P values of 0.008, 0.014, and 0.008, respectively. Conclusion: The current study results shed light on the significant role of H. Pylori infection in ascites of patients with decompensated end-stage liver cirrhosis suggesting a prospective relation between H. pylori infection and liver diseases progression due to hepatic infections especially HCV.