Evaluation of the presence of Helicobacter species in the biliary system of Turkish patients with cholelithiasis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Helicobacter genus and bile-resistant Helicobacter pylori are suggested to have a role in gallstone formation and epithelial cell proliferation in the gallbladder. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of Helicobacter species in the gallbladder tissue, bile and gallstones of Turkish patients with cholelithiasis.

METHODS

Forty-seven patients with calculous cholecystitis and 3 controls were evaluated for the presence of Helicobacter spp. by culture, polymerase chain reaction, and histological and immunohistochemistry methods.

RESULTS

Escherichia coli (10.6%), Enterobacter amnigenus (6.3%), Klebsiella planticola (2.1%), and Klebsiella ozaenae (2.1%) were isolated from the sample cultures of 8 patients. No other microorganisms, including H. pylori and other Helicobacter spp., were detected. Polymerase chain reaction was negative for Helicobacter spp. and H. pylori. No microorganisms resembling Helicobacter spp. were seen on the histological sections. The association between the presence of bacteria and epithelial cell proliferation index was not statistically significant (p=0.48).

CONCLUSIONS

There was no association between the presence of Helicobacter spp. and development of cholelithiasis in our study group. The microorganisms found in the samples did not reveal any significant association with the underlying disease.