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Background: Lung cancer is one of the most common causes of death worldwide. Although smoking and environmental pollutants are the most important risk factors of lung cancer, the role of infectious causes should also be considered in the pathogenesis and progress of lung cancer., Objectives: This study examined the relationship between Helicobacter pylori and lung cancer through serology, real-time PCR, and urease tests., Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 52 adult patients with lung cancer who were selected after having their history taken and being physically examined by a pulmonologist. Then, the patients underwent a bronchoscopy, a BAL, and biopsy sampling. A urease test was run for each biopsy sample, real-time PCR was used for each BAL sample, and H. pylori serology was used for each patient's serum., Results: The patients' average age was 60.65 ± 9.15 years; 11.5% were female and 88.5% were male. The prevalence of H. pylori in lung cancer patients was 11.5% according to the BAL PCR test, 92.3% according to the serology test, and 3.8% according to the urease test., Conclusions: The results demonstrated an association between of lung cancer and H. Pylori infection via the hypothesis of direct damage and chronic inflammation through inhalation and aspiration and the systematic immune response induced by H. pylori colonization. Helicobacter pylori , together with a host's genetic predisposition and other environmental risk factors, could be attributed to the induction of lung cancer.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most important causes of disability and mortality in the world. Although cigarette smoking and environmental pollutants have been recognized as the major causes of COPD, the role of infection in the pathogenesis and progression of COPD has also been reported., Objectives: The aim of the present study was to find the relationship between Helicobacter Pylori infection and COPD through anti H. pylori IgG serology, real time PCR of bronchoalveolar lavage and trans bronchial biopsy urease tests., Patients and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out on 60 adults with COPD. After obtaining the patient's history, physical examination, spirometry and confirmation of COPD diagnosis by pulmonologist, subjects were selected through convenience sampling. In order to determine the severity and prognosis of disease, the global initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease (GOLD) criteria and BODE index were used. Subjects underwent bronchoscopy for obtaining bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples and biopsy was performed. Biopsy and BAL samples were investigated respectively by urease test and real time PCR. Moreover, patients' serum samples were serologically studied for detection of anti H. pylori IgG., Results: Mean age of the participants was 60.65 ± 9.15 years, and 25% were female and 75% were male. The prevalence rate of H. pylori in COPD patients was 10% according to real time PCR, 88.3% according to the serology test and 0% based on the urease test. According to the results of PCR and considering the severity of disease based on the GOLD criteria, from those with a positive PCR, one patient (16.6%) had very severe obstruction, three (50%) had severe obstruction and two patients (33.3%) had moderate obstruction. The relationship between H. pylori presence (based on PCR) and disease severity and prognosis was not statistically significant., Conclusions: These findings can justify the hypothesis of direct injury and chronic inflammation via inhalation and aspiration resulting in H. pylori colonization. In fact, it is thought that H. Pylori infection, beside the host genetic vulnerability and other environmental risk factors might make the patient susceptible to COPD or lead to COPD worsening. Although we found H. pylori infection in some patients with COPD, the results of this study, could not explain the pathogenic mechanisms of COPD.