Foetal intrauterine growth restrictions with Helicobacter pylori infection

SUMMARY Background : Helicobacter pylori infection has been associated with growth restriction in young children. Aim : To determine whether there is an association between H. pylori infection and intrauterine growth restriction. Methods : Four hundred and forty‐eight consecutive pregnant women (aged 15–44 years), attending for routine examinations in the third trimester, were enrolled. Clinical, demographic and previous obstetric data, as well as smoking history, were collected. At delivery, the weight, height, gender and status of the neonate were recorded; intrauterine growth restriction was defined if the birth weight was below the 10th percentile according to the gestational age for infants born in Australia. Results : Eighty‐nine (20%) women were seropositive for H. pylori . The prevalence of H. pylori was significantly lower in Caucasians (17%) vs. non‐Caucasians (42%, P < 0.0001). There were 34 (7.5%) cases of intrauterine growth restriction (7% Caucasians, 16% Asians, 12% Aborigines and 0% Pacific Islanders). Intrauterine growth restriction was more common in H. pylori ‐seropositive women than in H. pylori ‐seronegative women [13.5% vs. 6%; odds ratio (OR)=2.41; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.14–5.08; P =0.018]. A multiple logistic regression model revealed that smoking (OR=3.55; 95% CI, 1.62–7.79; P =0.002), maternal height (OR=0.48; 95% CI, 0.28–0.80; P =0.005) and H. pylori seropositivity (OR=2.59; 95% CI, 1.12–5.95; P =0.025) were all independent risk factors for intrauterine growth restriction. Conclusions : H. pylori infection in pregnant women may affect foetal intrauterine growth.