Helicobacter pylori infection: from biology to clinical features

The discovery of bacterium Helicobacter pylori and the association of its occurrence with gastritis and peptic ulcer disease, was one of the most significant events of the 20th century. Almost 40 years have passed since that event, but we are still far from fully understanding of the impact of H. pylori infection on the human body. It is confirmed, that the infection causes chronic gastritis, which increases the risk of diseases such as: duodenal and/or gastric ulcer, gastric cancer and gastric MALT lymphoma. Nevertheless, constantly appear new studies linking H. pylori with many other disorders, often not directly related to the digestive system. Cardiovascular, neurological, hematological, dermatological, metabolic and also gynecological diseases are in sphere of assumptions. The authors of the following work attempted to select key information available in the medical literature on the discovery of H. pylori, epidemiology and pathophysiology of infection, as well as diseases to which it predisposes and the latest methods of eradication.