[Extragastric manifestations of H. pylori infection].

Recently, H. pylori has been associated with several extradigestive diseases such as cardio-vascular, cutaneous, autoimmune, allergic, liver, hematologic disorders, diabetes mellitus, pediatric diseases (sudden infant death syndrome, growth retardation), extragastric MALT-type lymphomas and even colorectal cancer. The potential role of H. pylori infection in the pathogenesis of these extradigestive disorders has been based on the following facts: 1) local gastric infection with H. pylori may exert systemic effects; 2) during chronic H. pylori induced gastritis several different inflammatory mediators are released that are able to cause disorders remote to the primary site of infection and 3) the successful eradication of H. pylori infection improves partly or completely the extradigestive disorders. The available data is conflicting because of the presence of several confounding factors in epidemiological studies. On the basis of the published data any of these associations has been proved. Further prospective studies to explain the association between H. pylori and extradigestive disorders are needed.