Correlation of Helicobacter pylori infection with inflammatory response and leukocyte count in patients with chronic cor pulmonale

ObjectiveTo investigate the correlation between Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection and inflammatory response and leukocyte count in patients with chronic cor pulmonale.

MethodsOne hundred and thirty-four in-patients with chronic cor pulmonale from February 2018 to July 2020 were selected as study subjects, who were divided into Hp-infected chronic cor pulmonale(n=82) and non-Hp-infected chronic cor pulmonale group(n=52) according to their Hp infection status.The 336 patients without chronic cor pulmonale were selected as the control group, who were divided into Hp-infected control group(n=88) and non-Hp-infected control group(n=248) according to their Hp infection or not.The blood gas indexes, interleukin(IL)-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), hypersensitive C reactive protein(hs-CRP) levels and peripheral blood leukocytes were detected and compared, and the correlations were analyzed by multi-factor regression analysis.

Results61.19% patients were Hp positive in chronic cor pulmonale group, which was significantly higher than that of 26.19% in the control patients(P < 0.01).The arterial partial pressure of oxygen(PaO₂), saturation of oxygen(SaO₂) and acid-base(pH) values of patients in the chronic cor pulmonale group were significantly lower than those in the control group, and the arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide(PaCO₂) was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.01).The PaO₂, SaO₂ and pH values of patients in the Hp infection group were significantly lower than those in the non-Hp-infected group, while PaCO₂ was significantly higher than that in the non-Hp-infected group(P < 0.01).IL-6, TNF-α, hs-CRP and IL-8 levels were significantly higher in patients in the chronic cor pulmonale group than those in the control group, and the serum inflammatory factor levels were also significantly higher in the Hp-infected group than those in the non-Hp-infected group(P < 0.01).The leukocyte count and neutrophil fraction were significantly higher in the chronic cor pulmonale group than those in the control group, and both were also significantly higher in the Hp-infected group than those in the non-Hp-infected group(P < 0.01).Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that Hp infection in patients with chronic cor pulmonale was associated with total leukocyte and absolute neutrophil values, serum IL-6, TNF-α, hs-CRP and IL-8 levels, and functional indicators of blood gas analysis, PaO₂, PaCO₂ and SaO₂(P < 0.05 to P < 0.01).

ConclusionsHp infection is associated with the impairment of pulmonary function, systemic inflammatory response and hypoxemia in patients with chronic cor pulmonale.