Helicobacter pylori is a common pathogen causing gastric inflammation and malignancy.
Fetuin-A is a multifunctional protein that is involved in the regulation of calcification,
insulin resistance and inflammation. Reports on serum levels of fetuin-A in acute
H. pylori infection are contradictory. We intended to see whether H. pylori post-infection
status has a long-term effect on serum fetuin-A levels in a well-characterized series
of systemic lupus erythematosus cases.In this cross-sectional study 117 patients with
systemic lupus erythematosus were enrolled. Helicobacter infection status and serum
fetuin-A concentration were determined by ELISA and radial immunodiffusion, respectively.
H. pylori positive patients had higher serum fetuin-A concentration than negative
ones: 517 (456-603) vs. 476 (408-544) mg L-1, median (25-75% percentiles), P = 0.020.
No other parameters differed between these groups. During univariate regression analysis
fetuin-A levels were associated with Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), White blood
cell count (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), serum total protein, albumin, and the
SLEDAI index at the time of diagnosis but only serum albumin remained a significant
determinant in multivariate regression study.
