It has long been known that chronic bacterial infections have an impact upon
the overall organism. H. pylori infection is no exception to the rule. Indeed, the
infection is acquired early in life and induces an intense/moderate local and systemic
inflammatory status that lasts for the entire patients’ life. During this time, different
organs and systems of infected individuals are exposed to injures exerted by the
inflammation and immune responses to the infection, as well as to autoimmune
reactions triggered by mechanisms of antigenic mimicry between human tissue cells and
H. pylori. The CagA-positive bacterial genotype is mostly involved in extradigestive
manifestations of such an infection, due to the increased inflammatory potential of this
organism. The organs and systems that most of all may suffer from the detrimental
consequences of H. pylori infection are the cardiovascular (ischaemic heart diseases),
haematological (purpura, urticaria etc.), central nervous (Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s
diseases) and endocrine systems (autoimmune thyroid disorders). There is an increasing
evidence, however, that no district of the human body is sheltered from the harmful
effects of H. pylori infection. In conclusion, H. pylori infection may have deleterious
consequences on organs and systems different from the gastroduodenal tract. To better
understand the pathogenic mechanisms of extradigestive disorders associated with H.
pylori infection, is essential to determine the CagA status of the infecting organisms.
Keywords: H. pylori infection, CagA, extradigestive diseases, ischaemic heart
disease, idiopathic arrhythmia, migraine, Raynaud’s disease, autoimmune thyroid
disease, diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, iron deficiency anemia, Schönlein-
Henoch purpura, MALT lymphoma, rosacea, chronic urticaria, glaucoma,
Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, systemic sclerosis, Sjögren’s syndrome,
reproductive disorders.
