Association of Helicobacter pylori babA2 with peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer

AIM: To investigate the association between babA2 gene and peptic ulcer disease (PUD) and gastric cancer (GC) in Helicobacter pylori-infected populations. METHODS: We evaluated the relationship between babA2 and clinical outcomes (PUD and GC) using a meta-analysis. A literature search was performed using the PubMed and Web of Science databases for relevant case-control studies that met the defined inclusion criteria. The ORs and 95% CIs were calculated to estimate the association between babA2 genotype and clinical outcomes. A fixed-effect or random-effect model was performed depending on the absence or presence of significant heterogeneity. RESULTS: A total of 25 articles with 38 studies met the inclusion criteria and were finally included in this meta-analysis. The results showed that the babA2 genotype was significantly associated with an increased risk of PUD (OR = 2.069, 95% CI: 1.530-2.794, P < 0.001) and especially in the subgroup of duodenal ulcer (OR = 1.588, 95% CI: 1.141-2.209, P = 0.006). Moreover, a significant association between babA2 gene and PUD and duodenal ulcer (OR = 2.739, 95% CI: 1.860-4.032, P < 0.001; OR = 2.239, 95% CI: 1.468-3.415, P < 0.001, respectively) was observed in western countries but not in Asian countries. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that the presence of babA2 may be associated with increased risks for PUD, especially duodenal ulcer, in western countries. (C) 2013 Baishideng. All rights reserved.