Increased thrombin generation and circulating levels of tumour necrosis factor‐α in patients with chronic Helicobacter pylori‐positive gastritis

Summary Background : Conflicting data have been reported concerning the relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and coronary heart disease. Aim : To evaluate clotting system activation and plasma levels of tumour necrosis factor‐α, a procoagulant cytokine, in patients with H. pylori‐positive and ‐negative gastritis. Methods : Three groups of patients were identified: 38 with H. pylori‐positive gastritis, 18 with H. pylori‐negative gastritis, and 40 H. pylori‐negative controls with normal gastric mucosa. Plasma levels of prothrombin fragment 1 + 2 (F1 + 2) and tumour necrosis factor‐α were assayed. Patients were also controlled after 2 and 6 months following standard H. pylori eradication treatment. Results : At baseline, fragment 1 + 2 and tumour necrosis factor‐α levels in H. pylori‐positive patients were significantly higher than those in H. pylori‐negative patients with gastritis (P