HELICOBACTER AND HEPATOBILIARY DISEASES: UPDATE 2023

Helicobacter pylori e as doenças hepatobiliares: atualização 2023

HIGLIGHTS

•Clinical studies have shown that hepatobiliary diseases of inflammatory and neoplastic origin are associated with Helicobacter infection.

•Translocation and the ascending pathway are putative mechanisms for Helicobacter spp to enter the hepatobiliary system.

•H. pylori infection has a systemic effect through the activity of pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α, leukotrienes, interferon-β, interferon-γ, and acute phase proteins.

•Histopathological confirmation is needed to present that H. pylori eradication prevents or improves hepatobiliary disease progression.

ABSTRACT

Helicobacter Pylori (H. pylori) is one of the main infectious causes of gastroduodenal diseases, however, its role in developing different extragastric diseases has been proven. The possible involvement of H. pylori in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular, metabolic, neurodegenerative, skin, and hepatobiliary diseases is suggested. The bacterium has been found in tissue samples from the liver, biliary tract, and gallstones of animals and humans. However, the role of H. pylori infection in the pathogenesis of liver and biliary diseases has not been finally established. The histopathological confirmation of the positive effect of H. pylori eradication is needed. In addition, there are discussions on the clinical significance of other Helicobacter species. The review presents the data available for and against the involvement of H. pylori in hepatobi­liary disease development and progression.

Keywords:
Helicobacter Pylori ; nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; autoimmune liver diseases; viral hepatitis; cirrhosis; cholelithiasis; cancer