h. pylori and colitis

[RyanRocker]

Hi Dr. Marshall,

My name is Ryan and I just read your interview in the March issue of Discover magazine. I have had ulcerative colitis for 6 years and have been told many times that there is no cure and no known cause, but they suspect a genetic link with an environmental trigger. It all sounds eerily similar to the many stomach ulcer patients who were told it was caused by stress.

My question is this: could h. pylori be a cause for ulcerative colitis as well? If it's possible, then what would need to be done to prove this? I would like to offer anything I could provide for any research being done on a link between a bacterial infection and ulcerative colitis. I'm truly sorry to bother you, as I'm sure you're quite busy. I just fear that one day I will have no alternative but to surgically remove the affected parts of my intestines.

I know you must have faced overwhelming opposition in the past, but if there is any chance to cure another similar ailment with an unknown cause, I would like to be a part of it.

Thank you very much for your time and wish you great success.

Sincerely,
Ryan

[barjammar]

I have seen this question many times in the past. Studies of people with ulcerative colitis - or people on sulfasalazine - have shown no increase in H.pylori. So it is probably not a cause. Other campylobacters and bacteria can give a similar picture on histology (biopsy) so at some point have stools cultured. Maybe even have a strong course of antibiotics if your doctor agrees. In a few cases something is eradicated.
There is literature about atypical TB bacteria (MAC) being involved in Crohn's disease, but nothing spectacular in that area just at present. The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation web site has a lot of smart people and this question is often discussed there.