High prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in Behcet’s disease

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Behcet's disease (BD) is a multisystem disease of unknown etiology. There are several clues which may indicate an ethiopathogenesis role for Helicobacter pylori infection in this disease. METHODS: In a case control study in an out patient department, 48 patients with BD were compared to age, sex matched controls regarding presence of H. pylori infection by serology and urea breath test (UBT). RESULTS: Ongoing H. pylori infection was more prevalent among patients with BD using result of UBT with odds ratio of 3.1 (95% CI: 1.34 - 7.26, PV < 0.001). CONCLUSION: H. pylori infection may have a role in the pathogenesis of BD.