Association between Helicobacter pylori infection and stages of liver pathology in patients with chronic hepatitis B

Objective To investigate the association between Helicobacter pylori( Hp) infection and stages of liver pathology in patients with chronic hepatitis B( CHB). Methods Seventy- nine patients who were hospitalized in the People's Hospital of Liuzhou from February 2008 to December 2014 were selected,and liver biopsy was performed for all patients to determine the liver inflammation grade( G) and fibrosis stage( S). Meanwhile,14C urea breath test(14C- UBT) was performed to detect Hp infection. The patients were divided into Hp-positive group and Hp- negative group based on the results of14C- UBT,and liver inflammation grade and fibrosis stage were compared between the two groups. The t- test was applied for comparison of continuous data between the two groups,and χ2test was applied for comparison of categorical data between the two groups. Results There were no differences in liver inflammation grade or fibrosis stage between Hp- positive group and Hp- negative group( t =- 1. 622 and- 1. 263,respectively; both P > 0. 05); there was no difference in the proportion of patients ≥G2 between the two groups( χ2= 1. 58; P > 0. 05); there was no difference in the proportion of patients ≥S2 between the two groups( χ2= 0. 02; P > 0. 05). Conclusion Hp infection may not be associated with liver inflammation grade or fibrosis stage in patients with CHB.