Abstract:

Background and Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between celiac disease and Helicobacter pylori infection and to compare the severity of celiac disease and Helicobacter pylori infection in adults according to the modified Marsh score. Materials and Methods: This study included 148 patients with celiac disease and 240 control patients without celiac disease who underwent endoscopy for various reasons in a tertiary hospital. Age, gender, endoscopy indications, descriptive characteristics, complaints, serological, endoscopic and histopathological findings of the patients were recorded and analyzed. Results: Helicobacter pylori colonization in the celiac disease patients was 43.9% and in control group was 57.5% (p = 0.009). Helicobacter pylori positivity rate was significantly lower in Marsh 2, 3A, 3B, 3C groups ( p = 0.04). Pearson correlation analysis revealed a significant but weak negative relationship between the severity of Helicobacter pylori and celiac disease (r = -.109, p = 0.031). When Marsh score was increasing, Helicobacter pylori grade decreased. Conclusion: The current study indicated that the incidence of Helicobacter pylori infection was lower in adults with celiac disease compared to control patients, and Helicobacter pylori colonization density was associated with milder duodenal lesions in celiac patients. Helicobacter pylori colonization may have a protective role in the development of celiac disease.

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