Helicobacter pylori (HP) has been reported to stimulate the release of various pro-inflammatory cytokines in the gastric mucosa, but their systemic role remains obscure. Only few data on the relation between chronic Helicobacter pylori infection in critically ill patients fed by total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and systemic cytokine release exist. Forty-four consecutive TPN fed patients of ICU were divided into three groups according to anti-HP antibodies (IgG class) levels (estimated by SynElisa-Dialab). 1) Patients with low anti-HP antibodies (< 10 IU/ml). 2) Patients with an intermediate level of anti-HP antibodies (11–30 IU/ml). 3) Patients with a high level of anti-HP antibodies (> 31 IU/ml). Serum and urine levels of sIL-2R, IL-8 and TNF-a were estimated using ELISA kits. Results: Plasma levels of sIL-2R correlate with anti-HP antibody levels in all 44 patients (corr. coeff. 0.444, p = 0.0124). IL-8 serum levels are presented as median and percentiles (25% and 75%) in pg/ml. Group 1: 41.3 (28.1–71.8), group 2: 61.0 (37.2–93.1) and group 3: 76.5 (46.1–130.5). There are no significant differences among groups. Low anti-HP antibody levels in TPN fed patients are associated with lower plasma sIL-2R and IL-8 levels.

        Key words: Helicobacter pylori, cytokines, parenteral nutrition.