Is Helicobacter pylori Infection a Driver in Pregnancy Related Disorders: A Review

Helicobacter pylori is a successful pathogen, infecting approximately 60% of the world’s population (1). It causes numerous gastrointestinal conditions, and was named a class I carcinogen by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 1994 (2). This paper reviews studies assessing the impact of H. pylori on pregnancy related disorders such as Hyperemesis Gravidarum, Iron deficiency anaemia and fetal growth restriction and examines the proposed pathogenic mechanisms by which H. pylori is thought to cause these pregnancy related disorders through the use of virulence factors and specialisms it possesses.