Abstract

Background: – Microbial exposures have been suggested to confer protection from allergic disorders, and reduced exposures to gastrointestinal microbiota have been proposed as an explanation for the increase in asthma prevalence. Since the general prevalence of Helicobacter pylori has been decreasing, we hypothesized that H. pylori serostatus would be inversely related to the presence of asthma. Methods: Adults were recruited to participate in the Al-Kadhimiah Teaching Center. Adult asthma cases (N = 64) and controls (N = 40) were identified, and serum IgG antibodies to H. pylori whole-cell antigens was measured. Results: As expected, the asthma cases and controls differed with respect to atopy and lung function. Seropositivity to H. pylori was present in 10.9% in asthma groups, while in controls was 92.5% of the study population. Asthma was inversely associated with H. Pylori IgG. Conclusion: These data are consistent with the hypothesis that colonization with H. pylori is inversely associated with asthma and is associated with an older age of asthma onset in the population. The data suggest H. pylori as a marker for protection

Keywords

Helicobacter, Atopy and Asthma, Al-Kadhimia Teaching Center