Helicobacter pylori is not a risk factor for hepatic encephalopathy

Background. Helicobacter pylori infection has been described as a risk factor for hepatic encephalopathy in patients with chronic liver disease although the topic remains controversial. Aims. To determine whether Helicobacter pylori infection is an independent predictive factor for encephalopathy in patients with liver cirrhosis. Methods. Clinical, epidemiological, analytical and nutritional parameters of 205 patients were collected. Helicobacter pylori infection was determined by serology. Encephalopathy (grade II or higher] was clinically assessed during follow-up. The relationship between each parameter and encephalopathy was analysed by Kapfan-Meier curves and the Log rank test. The most significant parameters underwent multivariate analysis by Cox regression. Results. Twenty-five variables were related to encephalopathy in the bivariate analysis. Multivariate analysis selected five independent factors: previous bouts of encephalopathy (Odds ratio 3.79, 95% confidence interval 1.94-7.38), albumin (Odds ratio 0.86; 95% confidence interval 0.80-0.92), tricipital skin fold (Odds ratio 0.79; 95% confidence interval 0.66-0.95] chronic pulmonary disease [Odds ratio 2.78, 95% confidence interval; 1.31-5.92), and on-going alcoholism [Odds ratio 2.62; 95% confidence interval 1.16-5.88). Conclusions. Helicobacter pylori is not an independent risk factor for hepatic encephalopathy.