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Helicobacter pylori Infection Does Not Impact on Lung Transplant Outcome

  • Lung Transplantation
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Abstract

Background

Helicobacter pylori (HP) is a spiral, gram-negative, microaerophilic bacterium that colonises the human gastric mucosa and is associated with gastrointestinal and extragastrointestinal disorders. Since no data are yet available on HP infection in lung transplant patients, we evaluated the prevalence and impact of HP infection in a population of such patients.

Methods

Sixty-seven lung transplant patients were enrolled in the study (35 females and 32 males, age 48.4 ± 13.3 years), 54 underwent bilateral and 13 single lung transplant. Serum antibodies against HP and CagA were assayed in all subjects.

Results

The prevalence of HP infection in lung transplant patients was similar to that in the general population (49.25% vs. 51.4%), whereas HP-positive patients showed lower CagA positivity (9% vs. 50.2%, p < 0.0001). There was a higher prevalence of HP infection in patients who underwent lung transplant because of pulmonary fibrosis (p = 0.049), and a lower prevalence in COPD patients (p = 0.011). No correlation was found between HP infection in lung transplant patients and graft outcome. No differences in primary graft dysfunction, acute rejection or bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome-free survival were found. However, more patients who required three or more post-transplant re-hospitalisations were observed among HP-positive patients.

Conclusions

The prevalence of HP infection in lung transplant patients was comparable to that of the general population and to that reported in heart and kidney transplant recipients. It did not seem to impact short-, mid- or long-term lung allograft outcome. H. pylori infection did not prove to be clinically relevant in lung transplant patients.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Dr. Laura Bergantini, MSC for her help in lab analysis and sample preparation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Respiratory Diseases and Lung Transplantation, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences & Neurosciences, University of Siena, Viale Bracci, 16, 53100, Siena, Italy

    David Bennett, Antonella Fossi, Giuseppina Chiarello, Rosa Metella Refini & Paola Rottoli

  2. Thoracic Surgery, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences & Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy

    Luca Luzzi & Piero Paladini

  3. Internal Medicine, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences & Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy

    Maria Materozzi, Natale Figura & Ranuccio Nuti

Authors
  1. David Bennett
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  2. Antonella Fossi
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  3. Giuseppina Chiarello
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  4. Rosa Metella Refini
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  5. Luca Luzzi
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  6. Piero Paladini
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  7. Maria Materozzi
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  8. Natale Figura
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  9. Ranuccio Nuti
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  10. Paola Rottoli
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Contributions

DB: study concept and design; acquisition of data; analysis and interpretation of data; drafting of the manuscript; critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content; statistical analysis; study supervision. AF: acquisition of data; analysis and interpretation of data; statistical analysis; critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content. GC: acquisition of data. RMR: acquisition of data; analysis and interpretation of data. LL: acquisition of data; technical or material support. PP: acquisition of data; technical or material support. MM: acquisition of data; technical or material support. NF: study concept and design; analysis and interpretation of data; critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content. RN: critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content. PR: critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content and study supervision.

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Correspondence to David Bennett.

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None of the authors have any competing interests to declare.

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Bennett, D., Fossi, A., Chiarello, G. et al. Helicobacter pylori Infection Does Not Impact on Lung Transplant Outcome. Lung 197, 95–99 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-018-0178-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-018-0178-7

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