The Study Of The Relationship Between Helicobacter Pylori And Thyroid Nodules

Objective To evaluate the relationship between the Helicobacter pylori (H. Pylori) and thyroid nodules (TN), and to explore its possible mechanisms.Materials and methods There are a total of594healthy subjects in this study. We have recorded their gender, age, height and weight. All of them have accepted the13C-urea breath test (13C-UBT) and color Doppler ultrasound at bilateral thyroids.Results There are248thyroid nodules patients in594cases of subjects. The prevalence of thyroid nodules is45.2%. The prevalence of thyroid nodules in female (52.6%) was significantly higher than that in male (35.6%), and the difference is statistically significant (X2=16.1, P<0.01, OR=2.00,95%CI.42～2.81). The prevalence is increasing with age in male and female.13C-UBT positive rate in the TN-positive group (49.2%) is significantly higher than the TN-negative group (38.2%), and the difference is statistically significant (X2=7.20, P<0.01, OR=1.57,95%CI=1.13～2.18), especially in the group of30to49year-old (56.5%vs36.9%, X2=11.41,P<0.01, OR=2.22,95%CI=3.53-1.40). In male,13C-UBT positive rate of the TN-positive group is higher than that of the TN-negative group (53.3%vs41.0%, X2=5.35, P<0.05, OR=1.65,95%CI=1.08to2.53), well there is no statistically difference in female (X2=3.77, P>0.05). The overweight/obesity rate in the TN-positive group is higher than that in the TN-negative group (X2=5.50, P<0.05).Conclusions There is positive correlation between H. Pylori and thyroid nodules, especially in male or those in30to49year-old. H. Pylori infection may be one of the risk factors in thyroid nodules. Antigen-antibody cross-reaction and lipid metabolism disorder may be the mechanism.