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Thromb Haemost 1999; 82(01): 14-18
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1614622
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Helicobacter Pylori Infection and the Risk of Myocardial Infarction: Role of Fibrinogen and Its Genetic Control

Francesco Zito
1   From Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Unit of Genetics of Vascular Risk Factors, ”Angela Valenti“ Laboratory of Thrombosis Pharmacology, Department of Vascular Medicine and Pharmacology, Consorzio Mario Negri Sud, S. Maria Imbaro, Italy
,
Augusto Di Castelnuovo
1   From Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Unit of Genetics of Vascular Risk Factors, ”Angela Valenti“ Laboratory of Thrombosis Pharmacology, Department of Vascular Medicine and Pharmacology, Consorzio Mario Negri Sud, S. Maria Imbaro, Italy
,
Andria D’Orazio
1   From Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Unit of Genetics of Vascular Risk Factors, ”Angela Valenti“ Laboratory of Thrombosis Pharmacology, Department of Vascular Medicine and Pharmacology, Consorzio Mario Negri Sud, S. Maria Imbaro, Italy
,
Riccardo Negrini
2   From Terzo Laboratorio Analisi. Spedali Civili. Brescia, Italy
,
Domenico De Lucia
3   From Istituto di Patologia Generale ed Oncologia, 2da Università di Napoli, Napoli, Italy
,
Maria Benedetta Donati
1   From Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Unit of Genetics of Vascular Risk Factors, ”Angela Valenti“ Laboratory of Thrombosis Pharmacology, Department of Vascular Medicine and Pharmacology, Consorzio Mario Negri Sud, S. Maria Imbaro, Italy
,
Licia Iacoviello
1   From Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Unit of Genetics of Vascular Risk Factors, ”Angela Valenti“ Laboratory of Thrombosis Pharmacology, Department of Vascular Medicine and Pharmacology, Consorzio Mario Negri Sud, S. Maria Imbaro, Italy
4   From IVVO-TNO Gaubius Laboratorium, Leiden, The Netherlands
› Author AffiliationsThis work was supported in part by a contract (960104375) with the Italian National Research Council (Progetto Strategico “Myocardial Infarction”). Francesco Zito is the recipient of a fellowship from Banca di Roma. Augusto Di Castelnuovo is the recipient of a fellowship from the Centro di Formazione e Studi per il Mezzogiorno (FORMEZ, Progetto Speciale “Ricerca Scientifica Applicata nel Mezzogiorno”). We are indebted to Dr. Giovanni de Gaetano and Dr. Roberto Marchioli for helpful suggestions, and to Prof. P. Brakman, Dr. Iacoviello’s thesis advisor at University of Leiden.
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Publication History

Received 18 January 1999

Accepted after revision 18 March 1999

Publication Date:
11 December 2017 (online)

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Summary

The contribution of Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection to the risk of myocardial infarction was evaluated. The role of fibrinogen and its genetic control as a possibile mechanism by which HP may influence myocardial infarction risk was explored in this context. A case-control study was performed in 101 patients with myocardial infarction and in 101 controls.

HP infection was associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction independently for confounding variables (OR 4.1, CI95: 1.8-9.4). HP infection was significantly associated with higher levels of fibrinogen, both in cases and in controls. Furthermore, there was an additive effect of HP infection and B2 allele of BclI fibrinogen poly-morphism in increasing fibrinogen levels. HP infection showed a stronger effect on the risk of myocardial infarction in B2 allele carriers (OR 7.6, CI95: 1.8-31.6) as compared to subjects carrying the B1B1 genotype (OR 3.3, CI95: 1.2-9.2).

We showed that a previous HP infection is a risk factor for myocardial infarction. An increase in fibrinogen levels is a possible mechanism by which HP may act. Concomitant conditions, like a genetic predisposition in increasing fibrinogen levels, seem to further increase the effect of HP on myocardial infarction risk.

 

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