Lack of significant association between Helicobacter pylori infection and homocysteine levels in patients with cardiac syndrome X

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several diseases such as cardiac syndrome X (CSX), which includes chest pain, positive exercise stress test and normal angiography. Also, elevation of homocysteine (Hcy) level is associated with CSX, as it can severely disturb vascular endothelial function. We aimed to elucidate whether the infection of H.pylori affect the level of Hcy in CSX. Methods: Eighty-eight patients with CSX (32 men, 56 women; mean age: 53.8 ± 11.9) and 97 healthy controls (36 men, 61 women; mean age: 45.7 ± 7.3) were enrolled. Plasma samples were tested for the presence of IgG antibody to H.pylori using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay method. Hcy levels were measured enzymatically. Results: Plasma Hcy concentration in CSX patients is higher than control group (13.1 ± 2.6 vs. 11.8 ± 2.5 mmol/L; p = 0.002). There was no significant difference between Hcy in H.pylori+ and H.pylori– individuals in CSX group (13.1 ± 2.7 vs. 12.2 ± 0.6 mmol/L; p = 0.554) and between two groups in controls, respectively (12.1 ± 2.2 vs. 11.4 ± 2.9 mmol/L; p = 0.148). Conclusions: Although there is Hcy level increase in H.pylori+ CSX patients and controls comparing to H.pylori– subjects, but other factors may affect on Hcy level, too. (Cardiol J 2012; 19, 5: 466-469

Distribution of Blood Groups in Patients with Angiographically Defined Coronary Artery Disease in Iranian Community

In the past, the relationship between coronary artery disease (CAD) and been studied extensively. The ABO blood group has a significant effect on homeostasis and is therefore associated with adverse cardiovascular events. This study aimed to determine the distribution of ABO blood group and rhesus (Rh) status (ABO/Rh) in patients with different severity of CAD in Iranian community. A total of 1,236 CAD patients undergoing angiography were evaluated and their ABO/Rh blood type was determined in a study center between February 2005 and December 2010. Of the 1,236 records, only 1,046 medical documents recorded the number of involved vessels. The patients were classified according to the number of significantly affected stenotic vessels into single vessel (1VD), two vessels (2VD), and three vessels (3VD) disease subgroups. A substantially different ABO/Rh blood groups distribution was seen in the examined samples (O: 29.7%, A: 39.7%, B: 22.2%, AB: 8.3%, Rh positivity: 89.2%). The ABO/Rh blood group phenotype distribution in CAD patients with 1VD, 2VD, and 3VD was as follows: 37.5%, 41.3%, and 41.5%, respectively, for group A; 24.1%, 20.5%, and 20.6%, respectively, for group B; 31.2%, 26.8%, and 30.2%, respectively, for group O; 7.1%, 11.4% and 7.7%, respectively, for group AB (p = 0.26), and 88.7%, 90.5%, and 87.6%, respectively, for Rh positivity, (p = 0.47).  In addition, no significant correlation was not found among the ABO/Rh blood group distribution and the number of vessels involved, however, according to the different distribution of ABO/Rh blood group in CAD patients and healthy population, ABO/Rh might have an unknown role in CAD patients. Keywords: Coronary artery disease, Blood group, Stenosis, Vessel, Rhesus