Association of Helicobacter pylori with Elevated Blood Ammonia Levels in Cirrhotic Patients: A Meta-Analysis.
10.3349/ymj.2013.54.4.832
- Author:
Hai Xing JIANG
1
;
Shan Yu QIN
;
Zhi Gang MIN
;
Ming Zhi XIE
;
Tao LIN
;
Bang Li HU
;
Xiao Yun GUO
Author Information
1. Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, PR China. luckydoc123@qq.com
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Meta-Analysis
- Keywords:
Helicobacter pylori;
blood;
ammonia;
meta-analysis
- MeSH:
Ammonia/blood;
Asian Continental Ancestry Group;
European Continental Ancestry Group;
Helicobacter Infections/*blood;
Helicobacter pylori/pathogenicity;
Humans;
Liver Cirrhosis/*blood/*microbiology;
Publication Bias;
Regression Analysis
- From:Yonsei Medical Journal
2013;54(4):832-838
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: The association between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and blood ammonia levels in cirrhotic patients is controversial. We aimed to clarify this controvercy by performing a meta-analysis of published studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane library for studies which explored the association between H. pylori and blood ammonia levels in cirrhotic patients before May 2012. Six cohort studies involved in 632 H. pylori positive and 396 H. pylori negative cirrhotic patients were eligible for our analysis. The summary estimates were presented as standard means differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) from individual studies. RESULTS: Overall, there was significant association between H. pylori infection and the elevated blood ammonia levels in cirrhotic patients (SMD=0.34, 95% CI=0.21-0.47, I2=42.1%). Sensitivity analysis further confirmed this association. Subgroup analysis showed that the association was found only in Asian ethnicity, but not in Caucasian ethnicity. CONCLUSION: H. pylori infection is associated with elevated blood ammonia levels in cirrhotic patients, and more large scale studies and stratify analysis are warranted in order to further evaluate this association.
