Simultaneous Helicobacter Pylori Infection in Gastric Mucosa and Gallbladder Mucosa in Patients with Cholecystitis; Is There Any Relationship?

Background: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in gastric and gallbladder in patients with acute cholecystitis or symptomatic cholelitiasis undergoing cholecystectomy. Methods: 43 patients with biliary disease (cholecystitis or cholelitiasis) with inclusion criteria were selected in Shahid Modarres Hospital, Tehran, Iran. The data including age, sex, and the presence of Helicobacter pylori in biopsy samples of gallbladder and gastric mucosa for each patient were recorded and analyzed using SPSS software. Results: The biopsy specimens of gastric and gallbladder mucosa of 43 patients with the mean age of 54.8 ± 9.9 years were studied. 22 (51.2%) patients had acute cholecystitis and 21 (48.8%) had cholelithiasis. Among the gastric samples, 14 patients (32.6%) (9 men and 5 women) and in the gallbladder samples, 19 patients (44.2%) (8 women and 11 men) were positive for Helicobacter pylori. The simultaneous presence of Helicobacter pylori in the gastric and gallbladder mucosa was seen in 6 patients (13.9%). 10 patients (23.2%) were smokers, and 33 (76.7%) were non-smokers. Conclusions: It can be said that the presence of Helicobacter pylori in gallbladder can play an important role in the creation and spread of the infection. But the simultaneous presence of Helicobacter pylori infection in gastric and gallbladder cannot be a good standard to evaluate the diseases of the bile ducts.