Background: In numerous trials there have been reported the role of bacterial and virus infections as potential risk factors for the genesis of coronary heart disease (CHD). The aim of this study is to determine the appearance for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection among patients with conformed coronary heart disease (CHD). Patients and methodology: In prospective clinical study we investigated both the patients with confirmed coronary heart disease as well as those who recovered from myocardial infarction. We performed to all patients' proximal endoscopy and rapid ureasa test. We conducted the survey in the Division for Gastroenterohepatology, CCU Sarajevo, from September 1997. to February 2000. Results: We investigated 46 patients (34 males and 12 females, ranging from 41 to 71 years of age, mean age 58, 287.21). There was 35/46 (76%) of patients positive for H. pylori status. There were no sex differences among the infected patients (X2= 0.246; p>0.620). Patients with angina pectoris were positive for H. pylori infection in 72% (24/33), and those recovered from myocardial infarction in 85% (11/13) (X2=65.50; p<0.001). All patients with both non-stabile angina pectoris (n=5) and those who recovered from 2 consecutive infarcts were infected with H. pylori. Conclusion: The roles of infection and inflammation are very important in pathogenesis of CHD. There is strong statistical evidence of the presence of H. pylori infection in patient with severe CHD, which probably suggest of increased risk for CHD

Keywords: Coronary heart disease, Helicobacter pylori, risk factors