Sir,—Hyperhomocysteinaemia and Helicobacter pylori infection have recently been implicated in the pathogenesis of coronary heart disease and a possible link between these factors has been suggested in this journal.1 Our work has shown that chronic infection with H pyloriconfers a twofold risk of coronary heart disease2 and this association, like hyperhomocysteinaemia, is independent of hypertension, smoking, and hyperlipidaemia. Our studies have shown that fibrinogen concentrations and total leucocyte counts were higher inH pylori seropositive patients with cardiovascular disease.3 We therefore suggested that the mechanism is chronic infection accompanied by persistent inflammation.

Sir,—Hyperhomocysteinaemia andHelicobacter pylori infection have recently been implicated in the pathogenesis of coronary heart disease and a possible …