Extragastric Manifestations of Helicobacter Pylori Infection: A Commentary

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori (Hp) is characterized as a gram-negative bacterium with microaerophilic metabolism, flagellated and helix-shaped that affects approximately 50% of the world population and, in some regions, this rate can exceed 80% [1,2]. Hp infection is well known to infect the epithelial tissue of the stomach, being involved with development of many stomach diseases, including gastric carcinoma [3,4]. However, less frequently, this bacterium might also be involved in the development of extragastric disorders, such as manifestations in the gastrointestinal tract, except stomach, autoimmune, dermatological, ophthalmic and cardiac diseases, in addition to neurological, respiratory and endocrine diseases [5,6]. The article titled “Helicobacter pylori infection: beyond gastric manifestations” shows these possibilities [7].