Helicobacter Pylori Infection: A Possible Predisposing Factor in Chronic Plaque-Type Psoriasis

Background. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a common bacterial infection that is linked to disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. A possible relationship of H. pylori infection to a variety of dermatoses has been detected. Exposure to microbial infections like H. pylori is among a number of exogenous agents that might have a pathogenic role in the development of psoriasis, however, it is still a controversial subject. Objective. To evaluate the occurrence of H. pylori infection in chronic plaque-type psoriasis patients in order to determine a possible contribution in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Patients and methods. H. pylori infection was assessed in psoriatic patients and controls by using H. pylori IgG quantitative enzyme immunoassay (ELISA test). Anti H. pylori IgG antibodies were estimated in the sera of 20 psoriatic patients without GIT symptoms and 20 healthy age and sex matched controls. Estimates were correlated with PASI score of sero-positive psoriatic patients. Results. The prevalence of H. pylori IgG seropositivity in psoriatic patients was statistically significantly higher compared with controls (67.7 ± 32.5 vs 33.9 ± 15.1, p 0.05),and higher values were correlating with severe psoriasis. Conclusion. Based on these results, the link between H. pylori and psoriasis might be supported. We consider the pathogenic influence of H. pylori in psoriasis to be highly probable