Influence of H. Pylori and Sex on Leukocyte Differentials

Abstract Background: Influence of Helicobacter pylori infection and sex difference on leukocyte differentials was insufficiently understood. We therefore conducted the current study to evaluate influence of H. pylori and sex on peripheral leukocyte differentials as well as influence of Helicobacter pylori eradication. Methods: Dyspeptic patients and persons asked to examine gastroduodenal lesions at medical check were included. Total leukocytes, differentials, and anti-H.pylori IgG antibody were measured. Those change after eradication was also measured. H. pylori infection was assessed by anti-H. pylori IgG antibody, rapid urease test, and pathologic findings. H. pylori-uninfected patients and non-dyspeptic/seronegative persons were regarded as negative controls. Results: Totally 374 patients and 299 controls were evaluated, and 167 patients were successfully eradicated. Peripheral counts of neutrophil and monocyte elevated with H. pylori infection: 3221.7+/-1108.7 vs. 2911.9+/-1027.3/μL and 307.5+/-130.5 vs. 281.5+/-106.4/μL, (p­=.0002 and .0054). Compared to females, males manifested elevated counts of every leukocyte, but the difference was insignificant in basophil (p=.0089, 0.0316, <.0001, and .0384 for neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, and eosinophil, respectively). After eradication, counts of neutrophil, lymphocyte, and monocyte declined: 3111.0+/-966.8 to 2785.1+/997.2/μL, 1905.9+/-603.2 to 1831.6+/-613.5/μL, and 293.1+/-113.3 to 264.3+/-93.6/μL by 2 months (p=<.0001, .0189, and .0004). In contrast, eosinophil counts elevated from 123.2+/-97.0 to 139.8+/-115.4 by 2 months, and to 159.6+/-132.8/μL by 6 months (p=.0349 and <.0001). Conclusions: We confirmed increases in neutrophils and monocytes in H. pylori-infected patients. Successful eradication reduced peripheral counts of neutrophil, lymphocyte, and monocyte, whereas it increased eosinophil counts. Males manifested elevated counts of every leukocyte, comparing to females. H. pylori infection influences systemic immune response and may not predispose to allergic disorders.Trial registration: The study protocol was registered on UMIN (University hospital Medical Information Network system) in Japan (R000017345) in 2014.