Elevated helicobacter pylori prevalence in patients receiving TNF-α blocker therapy for inflammatory bowel disease

The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease who received TNF-α blocker therapy compared to a control group and to evaluate H. pylori as a potential side effect of TNF-α inhibitors in patients with dyspeptic complaints. This study included 140 patients aged 20-85 years. Among these patients, 70 were diagnosed with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease and prescribed TNF-α blockers assigned to the study group. The remaining 70 patients did not receive TNF-α blockers and were assigned to the control group. Patients' demographic data such as age and gender, biochemical laboratory parameters, dyspeptic diseases, drugs used and duration of usage were recorded. The quantity of H. pylori positivity was found as 45.7% in all patients. Of the 76 male patients, 39 (51.3%) were H. pylori (+), and 37 (48.7%) were H. pylori (-). Of the 64 female patients, 25 (39.1%) were H. pylori (+), and 39 (60.9%) were H. pylori (-). There was no statistically prominent disparity between the H. pylori (+) and H. pylori (-) patients regarding age and gender. The rate of H. pylori positivity was statistically meaningly lower in the study group compared to the control group (p=0.027). Our study suggests that TNF-α blockers may increase the risk of H. pylori infection in patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease and that H. pylori should be considered a potential side effect of TNF-α inhibitor therapy in these patients. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and investigate this association's underlying mechanisms. Clinicians should consider testing for H. pylori in patients receiving TNF-α inhibitors who develop dyspeptic symptoms. [Med-Science 2023; 12(2.000): 431-5]