Association of Helicobacter pylori IgG Antibody with Microvascular Complications in Type II Diabetic Patients

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between HP infection and microvascular complications of type two diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
Study Design: Cross-sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: Shahid Beheshti Hospital of Qom, Iran, between March 2012 and March 2013.
Methodology: In this cross-sectional study 211 T2DM patients have been examined. Subjects were divided into two groups (HP+ and HP-) based on HP infection (diagnosed with IgG serology), and the association between these groups and microvascular complications of T2DM including nephropathy (based on protein excretion in 24-hour urine collection), retinopathy (based on examination by an ophthalmologist) and neuropathy (diapason and monofilament examination) has been evaluated.
Results: Of the 211 subjects studied, 125 (59.24%) were HP+. The mean diabetes duration was not significantly different in both groups. A significant association was found between HP infection and diabetic neuropathy (p=0.04), but there was no correlation between HP infection and diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy (p=0.2 and p=0.43, respectively). Conclusion: Infection with H. pylori increases the risk of diabetic neuropathy and is considered as a possible risk factor diabetic neuropathy.