Personal
Professional
Research
Personal Professional Research Sign Up Login Pro Login
Research Helicobacter pylori
GI-MAP Interpretive Guide by Diagnostic Solutions Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory

Helicobacter pylori

Optimal Result: 0 - 999 Units.

Helicobacter pylori has been evolving with human beings for well over 50,000 years, since they migrated out of Africa. H. pylori colonization has been implicated in a variety of gastroduodenal diseases including:

- gastritis,

- gastric cancer,

- and duodenal and peptic ulcer.

H. pylori has also been detected by stool PCR in cases of:

- dyspepsia,

- abdominal pain,

- and chronic gastrointestinal symptoms.

It is infamous for its causal link to ulcers and gastric cancer, which resulted in a Nobel prize awarded to Robin Warren and Barry Marshall in 2005. However, some sources are suggesting its role, at least in part, as a commensal organism. H. pylori may protect its host from certain atopic disorders, as well as other diseases such as:

- esophageal cancer reflux,

- and obesity. 

Population data shows that H. pylori virulence varies geographically. It is associated with high rates of cancer in certain regions, but not in others. The difference may lie in H. pylori’s genetics. Host immune status and acid secretion seem to be other important factors contributing to H. pylori’s colonization and pathogenesis. The H. pylori virulence factors that are most well recognized are vacA and cagA. The presence of cagA-positive H.pylori strains has been significantly associated with gastric cancer and peptic ulcer. The gene codes for a type IV secretion system which allows the bacterium to inject the cagA protein into the host cell. Once inside the host’s gastric epithelial cells, cagA can disrupt cell signaling, leading to abnormal proliferation, motility, and changes in the cytoskeleton. These changes to normal cell signaling can initiate cancer. The presence of vacA has been associated with gastric cancer, peptic ulcer, and duodenal ulcer. The vacA gene is present in all strains of H.pylori but is polymorphic, which leads to different levels of vacuolating toxin. VacA toxins interact with certain receptors on host cells, setting off a chain of events including mitochondrial damage, inhibition of T-lymphocytes, and interference of antigen presentation.

Numerous papers suggest the clinical utility of PCR testing for H. pylori. Detection of H.pylori in biopsy specimens by PCR has proven superior to other methods. It has shown sensitivity and specificity reaching that of the diagnostic “gold standard,” which is endoscopy with biopsy and urease test. H.pylori genotyping may be useful for resistant H. pylori infections that have failed to respond to triple antibiotic therapy. In one study of RT-PCR, authors stated it was a “highly accurate noninvasive method to detect H. pylori infection in stool and at the same time allows for culture-independent clarithromycin susceptibility testing.” 

H. pylori may be asymptomatic and require no treatment or only supportive care to improve the intestinal mucosa and gastrointestinal lining. Information on the cagA and vacA genes may help determine whether treating a positive H. pylori result is necessary.

What does it mean if your Helicobacter pylori result is too high?

H. pylori colonization has been implicated in a variety of gastroduodenal diseases including:

- gastritis,

- gastric cancer,

- and duodenal and peptic ulcer.

H. pylori has also been detected by stool PCR in cases of:

- dyspepsia,

- abdominal pain,

- and chronic gastrointestinal symptoms.

It is infamous for its causal link to ulcers and gastric cancer, which resulted in a Nobel prize awarded to Robin Warren and Barry Marshall in 2005. However, some sources are suggesting its role, at least in part, as a commensal organism. H. pylori may protect its host from certain atopic disorders, as well as other diseases such as:

- esophageal cancer reflux,

- and obesity. 

Symptoms:

Most people with H. pylori infection will never have any signs or symptoms. It's not clear why this is, but some people may be born with more resistance to the harmful effects of H. pylori.

When signs or symptoms do occur with H. pylori infection, they may include:

- An ache or burning pain in your abdomen

- Abdominal pain that's worse when your stomach is empty

- Nausea

- Loss of appetite

- Frequent burping

- Bloating

- Unintentional weight loss

Potential treatment:

H. pylori infections are usually treated with at least two different antibiotics at once, to help prevent the bacteria from developing a resistance to one particular antibiotic. Your doctor also will prescribe or recommend an acid-suppressing drug, to help your stomach lining heal. Your doctor may recommend that you undergo testing for H. pylori at least four weeks after your treatment. If the tests show the treatment was unsuccessful, you may undergo another round of treatment with a different combination of antibiotic medications.

Frequently asked questions

Healthmatters is a highly-personalized health dashboard.

Instead of searching for your lab results in different places or tracking them down from different providers, Healthmatters houses, organizes, and interprets them all in one central location.

With a Healthmatters account, you can dive into the details of each biomarker and gain insights into the meaning behind your medical test data, anytime, anywhere.

For our professional users, Healthmatters provides intuitive tools that not only streamline analysis but also save valuable time when delving into your client's lab report history.

Healthmatters.io personal account provides in-depth research on 4000+ biomarkers, including information and suggestions for test panels such as, but not limited to:

  • The GI Effects® Comprehensive Stool Profile,
  • GI-MAP,
  • The NutrEval FMV®,
  • The ION Profile,
  • Amino Acids Profile,
  • Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones (DUTCH),
  • Organic Acids Test,
  • Organix Comprehensive Profile,
  • Toxic Metals,
  • Complete Blood Count (CBC),
  • Metabolic panel,
  • Thyroid panel,
  • Lipid Panel,
  • Urinalysis,
  • And many, many more.

You can combine all test reports inside your Healthmatters account and keep them in one place. It gives you an excellent overview of all your health data. Once you retest, you can add new results and compare them.

If you are still determining whether Healthmatters support your lab results, the rule is that if you can test it, you can upload it to Healthmatters.

While we work with many popular labs, we welcome reports from lots of other places too.

It's as simple as this: if you can get a test done, you can upload it to Healthmatters and we can interpret results from any lab out there. If laboratories can analyze it, we can interpret it.

If you’re on the hunt for a specific biomarker, contact us and we'll add it to our database. Anything from blood, urine, saliva, or stool can be uploaded, understood, and tracked with your Healthmatters account.

There are two ways to add your test reports to your Healthmatters account. One option is to input the data using the data entry forms. The other method is to utilize our "Data entry service."

Our data entry forms offer an easy, fast, and free way for you to input the reports yourself. Self-entry allows you to add an unlimited number of reports at no cost. We make the self-entry process user-friendly, providing dozens of templates that pre-populate the most popular laboratory panels and offering instant feedback on entered values.

For those who prefer assistance, we offer a "Data entry service" to help you input your data. Simply attach an image or file of your lab test results, and a qualified team member from our data entry team will add the results for you.

We support various file types, including PDFs, JPGs, or Excel. This service is particularly useful if you have many reports to upload or if you're too busy to handle the data entry yourself.

Our special data entry service makes it easy to add your results to your private dashboard. Just attach an image or a file of your lab test results, and our skilled data entry team will do the work for you. It's all done by humans, ensuring that your data is entered accurately and with personal care for each client.

Depending on your account, the data entry service can be included for free or come at an additional cost of $15 per report.

For users on the Complete monthly plan, the first report is entered free of charge, and each additional report incurs a fee of $15.

Unlimited account holders enjoy the entry of ten reports without charge. Subsequent reports are subject to a $15 fee per report.

Additionally, users on the Complete plan can upgrade to a yearly subscription from the account settings. The annual subscription includes a data entry service for five reports.

The Unlimited plan is a one-time purchase for $250, and it covers your account for a lifetime with no additional payments.

For the Complete plan, the cost is $15 per month. You have the flexibility to cancel it anytime through your account settings, ensuring no further payments. To avoid charges, remember to cancel at least a day before the renewal date. Once canceled, the subscription remains active until the end of the current billing cycle.

Additionally, you can upgrade to the yearly Advanced plan from within your account. The annual cost is $79, and it comes with a data entry service for five reports.

You can always upgrade to a lifetime version with a prorated price from a monthly or yearly subscription.

Simply log in and navigate to your account settings to cancel your subscription. Scroll down to locate the 'Cancel' button at the bottom of the page. Ensure you cancel at least one day before the renewal date to prevent any charges. Once cancellation is requested, the subscription remains active until the conclusion of the current billing cycle.

Our goal has been to make your Healthmatters account as intuitive as possible.

We’ve crafted multiple ways for you to navigate your data, whether you're glancing at a single report or delving into your historical test reports.

1. Graph View:

Dive into a visual journey with our biomarker graphs, showcasing over 40 data points. Combining years of results unveils trends, empowering you to make informed decisions. Our visualization tools make it a breeze to compare and understand changes over time, even if your results are from different labs. A search function and filters simplify the exploration of extensive data, allowing you to focus on what needs attention.

2. All Tests View

Explore neatly organized reports on a timeline, highlighting crucial details like dates, critical results, and lab/panel names. Each report opens up to reveal in-depth descriptions and additional recommendations for each biomarker. The history of previous results is just a click away, and you can download a comprehensive report for deeper insights. Color-coded and user-friendly, it's designed for easy reading, understanding, and navigation.

3. Table View:

For a holistic view of all biomarkers side by side, our table view is your go-to. Results are neatly displayed in a categorized and dated table, ideal for those with an extensive test history. Utilize sorting, filters, and color-coding to enhance your analysis and gain extra insights.

Yes, you can download information from your account. We can compile your labs into a CSV file. To download all your labs, you can go to Account Settings, and at the bottom of the page, you will find a link to download your information.

Yes, you can print your report. To do so, navigate to "All tests" and open the report you wish to print. You'll find a print button in the right corner of the report. Click on it, and your browser's print window will open. If you prefer to print in a bigger typeface, adjust the scale using the print window settings.

Yes, you can! We highly recommend activating Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for your account. To do so, please navigate to the "Profile and Security" section of your account, where you will find instructions for activating 2FA.

Yes, you can. When entering values for the biomarker, you will see an "Edit Range" button. Click this button, and you'll have the option to enter a custom range.

A personal account is all about keeping your own lab test results in check. It's just for you and your personal use.

The professional account is designed for health professionals who wish to track and organize their clients' laboratory results.

To learn more about Healthmatters Pro, please refer to the professional page.

Use promo code to save 10% off any plan.


We implement proven measures to keep your data safe.

At HealthMatters, we're committed to maintaining the security and confidentiality of your personal information. We've put industry-leading security standards in place to help protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of the information under our control. We use procedural, physical, and electronic security methods designed to prevent unauthorized people from getting access to this information. Our internal code of conduct adds additional privacy protection. All data is backed up multiple times a day and encrypted using SSL certificates. See our Privacy Policy for more details.

Navigate to GI-MAP Interpretive Guide by Diagnostic Solutions

Popular search

A2142C, A2142G, A2143G, A926G, Adenovirus 40/41, AGA926-928TTC, Akkermansia muciniphila, Amoxicillin, Ancylostoma duodenale, Anti-gliadin IgA, Ascaris lumbricoides, b-Glucuronidase, Bacillus spp., Bacteroides fragilis, Bacteroidetes, Bifidobacterium spp., Blastocystis hominis, C. difficile, Toxin A, C. difficile, Toxin B, Calprotectin, Campylobacter, Candida albicans, Candida spp., Chilomastix mesnili, Citrobacter freundii, Citrobacter spp., Clarithromycin, Clostridia (class), Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora spp., Cytomegalovirus, Desulfovibrio spp., Dientamoeba fragilis, E. coli O157, Elastase-1, Endolimax nana, Entamoeba coli, Entamoeba histolytica, Enterobacter spp., Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus spp., Enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), Enteroinvasive E. coli/Shigella, Enterotoxigenic E. coli LT/ST, Eosinophil Activation Protein (EDN/EPX), Epstein-Barr Virus, Escherichia spp., Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Firmicutes, Firmicutes:Bacteroidetes Ratio, Fluoroquinolones, Fusobacterium spp., Geotrichum spp., Giardia, Gluten Peptide, gyrA D91G, gyrA D91N, gyrA N87K, gyrB R484K, gyrB S479N, Helicobacter pylori, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella spp., Lactobacillus spp., M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis, Methanobacteriaceae (family), Microsporidium spp., Morganella spp., Necator americanus, Norovirus GI/II, Occult Blood - FIT, PBP1A N562Y, PBP1A S414R, PBP1A T556S, Pentatrichomonas hominis, Prevotella spp., Proteus mirabilis, Proteus spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas spp., Rhodotorula spp., Rodotorula spp., Roseburia spp., Salmonella, Secretory IgA, Shiga-like Toxin E. coli stx1, Shiga-like Toxin E. coli stx2, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus spp., Steatocrit, Streptococcus spp., Taenia spp., Tetracycline, Trichuris trichiura, Vibrio cholerae, Virulence Factor, babA, Virulence Factor, cagA, Virulence Factor, dupA, Virulence Factor, iceA, Virulence Factor, oipA, Virulence Factor, vacA, Virulence Factor, virB, Virulence Factor, virD, Yersinia enterocolitica, Zonulin