Role of Helicobacter pylori in Rosacea

Abstract

Objective: Rosacea is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease. The etiology is not known exactly, and natural immunity, impaired dermal matrix, vasodilation, and fibrogenesis may play a role in the pathogenesis of rosacea. Many studies investigated the relationship between rosacea and Helicobacter pylori (HP) but the results were contradictory.

Methods: Patients were retrospectively identified from those treated by the Department of Dermatology. A total of 47 rosacea patients and 27 healthy controls were included in the study. Helicobacter pylori (Hp Ag), Helicobacter pylori immunoglobulin A (Hp IgA), and Helicobacter pylori immunoglobulin G (Hp IgG) were investigated and statistically compared in groups.

Results: There was statistically no difference between the groups in terms of Hp Ag positivity (p=0.871), Hp IgA positivity (p=0.806), and Hp IgG positivity (p=0.330).

Conclusions: Although we did not observe any difference between groups, we were unable to evaluate whether there is a reduction in symptoms with HP eradication. Further studies are needed to clarify the relation between HP infections with rosacea and other dermatological disorders.