Helicobacter pylori infection in rheumatoid arthritis:: effect of drugs on prevalence and correlation with gastroduodenal lesions

Objective. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of Helicobacter pylori infection on clinical features in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) under medication with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Methods. One hundred and eighty-four patients with RA were tested for the presence of H. pylori infection. Clinical features and gastroduodenal lesions were compared between H. pylori-positive and -negative patients. Results. One hundred and thirteen patients were positive and 71 patients were negative for H. pylori. The age, severity of RA, prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms and gastroduodenal lesions and the class of gastroprotective drugs were not different between the two groups. Reflux oesophagitis was less frequent and sulphasalazine was less frequently administered in the H. pylori-positive group. Conclusions. The severity of RA, prevalence of gastroduodenal lesions other than reflux oesophagitis and the application of gastroprotective drugs do not seem to depend upon H. pylori infection in RA patients. Sulphasalazine may be protective against H. pylori infection.