Korean J Gastroenterol.  2023 Sep;82(3):122-126. 10.4166/kjg.2023.037.

Association between Helicobacter pylori Infection and Eosinophilic Esophagitis

• Chang YH
• Shin CM
• Lee DH
• Yoon H
• Park YS
• Kim N

• KMID: 2546513
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4166/kjg.2023.037

Abstract

Background/Aims
This study examined the association between eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection.
Methods
A single tertiary referral center case-control study was performed. EoE patients diagnosed at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital from July 2003 to March 2022 were reviewed retrospectively. Forty-five EoE patients were included in the analysis. For each EoE patient, two age and sex-matched normal controls were selected randomly from an outpatient population who received upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.
Results
Although 17 out of 90 (18.9%) controls had a H. pylori infection, only two out of 45 (4.4%) EoE patients showed evidence of a H. pylori infection. EoE was inversely associated with a H. pylori infection (odds ratio 0.20, 95% confidence interval 0.04–0.91, p=0.044).
Conclusions
An inverse association was observed between H. pylori infection and EoE. Further prospective studies will be needed to validate the protective effects of H. pylori infection for EoE.

Keyword

Eosinophilic esophagitis; Helicobacter pylori; Hygiene hypothesis

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Flowchart of the study.

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  Fig. 2 Number of H. pylori infection cases in the EoE and Control group. EoE, eosinophilic esophagitis; H. pylori, Helicobacter pylori.

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