Medicine Xagena Medicine Atrial fibrillation and Helicobacter pylori: a possible pathogenic link A small study shows that a common bacterium may also be linked to the development of atrial fibrillation, Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori ) is a spiral-shaped bacterium that is found in the gastric mucous layer or adherent to the epithelial lining of the stomach, which causes ulcers, and has also been implicated in the development of stomach cancer and ischaemic heart disease. Italian researchers, included 59 patients with persistent atrial fibrillation, who had no structural heart disease. All the patients were administered a battery of tests, including a heart tracing, and levels of C reactive protein, an indicator of systemic inflammation. They were also directly tested for the presence of H pylori. The results were compared with those from

more...