The association of Helicobacter pylori infection with increased total IgE antibodies in Sana'a city, Yemen: a case-control study

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to determine the association between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and the total serum IgE antibodies.

Methods: This case-control study was conducted during a period from August 2018-July 2020. Two hundred individuals were enrolled in this study. They were divided into 100 individuals infected with H. pylori (case group) and 100 individuals were not infected with H. pylori (control group). Three ml peripheral blood was withdrawn from each individual. The blood sample was used for the detection of total IgE antibodies using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. A stool sample was collected from each individual for the determination of H. pylori antigen using a rapid immunochromatography assay.

Results: Total IgE antibodies were positive among 46% of H. pylori-infected cases versus 19% of controls. There was a statistically significant association between H. pylori infection and total IgE antibodies (p=0.001). Regarding the risk factors for H. pylori infection, there was a statistically significant association between smoking and H. pylori infection. In contrast, there was no statistically significant association between the type of water, washing vegetables, washing and chewing qat, and family history with H. pylori infection.

Conclusions: It could be concluded that total IgE antibody level increased in patients infected with H. pylori compared to the non-infected individuals.