ACTA FAC. MED. NAISS. 2006; 23 (3): 129-133

   Original article

Hamid Nasri

Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences,
Hajar Medical, Educational and Therapeutic Center, Department of Internal Medicine Shahrekord, Iran

    SUMMARY

   In dialysis patients, chronic infections induce overproduction of proinflammatory substances and inflammation has been associated with cachexia and anorexia. Infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is also associated with anorexia, inflammation, and malnutrition in dialysis patients. The aim of the study was to conduct a research on the association of body mass index (BMI) in hemodialysis (HD) patients with H. pylori IgG antibodies in order to find the effects of H. pylori infection on the development of malnutrition. The patients with an end-stage renal disease undergoing maintenance HD treatment who had had various upper gastrointestinal complaints such as epigastric pain, epigastric burning, postprandial fullness, early satiety, bloating and belching were investigated. Serum H. pylori specific IgG antibodytiters, serum Leptin serum post and predialysis blood urea nitrogen (BUN), albumin (Alb) ,C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured. BMI was also calculated. In the study, no significant difference of serum H. Pylori specific IgG antibody titer, serum Alb, serum leptin and BMI between males and females were found, as well as between diabetics and non-diabetic HD patients. In all patients and in females, non-diabetic and diabetic groups no significant correlation of H. Pylori IgG antibody titer with BMI was seen, while in male population, a significant inverse correlation of H. Pylori -IgG antibody titer with BMI (r= -0.54 p= 0.009) (adjusted for age and URR) was registered. It is possible that inflammation and activity in antrum in H. pylori infection may be higher in men with an end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis treatment, although this susceptibility needs more investigation with larger groups of patients.

    Key words: Hemodialysis, Helicobacter pylori infection, End-stage renal failure, Helicobacter pylori IgG Specific Antibodies, Body Mass Index