Helicobacter Pylori and skin: Any relationship?

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori is probably the commonest bacterial infection worldwide and is now accepted as the cause of gastritis, peptic ulcer, gastric carcinoma, and gastric lymphoma. In the last few years, besides the local gasteroduodenal tissue damage, an association between H.pylori and various extra-intestinal pathologies had been described. Recent studies have suggested that H.pylori infection may be associated with various skin disorders such as idiopathic chronic urticaria, Raynaud's phenomenon, systemic sclerosis, rosacea, Sweet's syndrome, Henoch-Schonlein purpura, psoriasis, and atopic dermatitis. In this paper we review the current knowledge on Helicobacter pylori infection and its relevance for skin diseases especially its clinical pathophysiological aspects.