Helicobacter pylori Eradication Ameliorates Primary Raynaud's Phenomenon

Raynaud's phenomenon is defined by anintermittent vasospasm of the arterioles of the distallimbs. Helicobacter pylori infection has been recentlyassociated with Raynaud's phenomenon. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of H. pylorieradication on Raynaud's attacks. Forty-six patientsaffected by primary Raynaud's phenomenon were evaluated.H. pylori infection was assessed by [13C]urea breath test. Eradication therapy was given toinfected patients for seven days. Discomfort and theduration and frequency of attacks of Raynaud'sphenomenon per week were assessed. Thirty-six subjectswere infected with H. pylori; the bacterium waseradicated in 83% of these after therapy. Attacks ofRaynaud's phenomenon completely disappeared in 17% ofthe patients with H. pylori eradication. Discomfort and the duration and frequency of attacks ofRaynaud's phenomenon were significantly reduced in 72%of the remaining patients. Conversely, attacks ofRaynaud's disease did not change significantly during the 12-week follow-up period either in the H.pylori-negative patients or in the infected subjects inwhom the bacterium was not eradicated by therapy. Thestudy shows that H. pylori eradication causes a significant decrease in clinical attacks ofRaynaud's disease. The reduction of vasoactivesubstances determined by the eradication of thebacterium may be the pathogenetic mechanism underlyingthe phenomenon.