Evidence of Helicobacter pylori infection in dental plaque and gastric mucosa.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the presence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori ) in dental plaque of individuals suffering from H. pylori associated gastric disease.

DESIGN

descriptive.

PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY

The study was conducted at the Department of Medicine in collaboration with Departments of Dentistry and Pathology at PNS Shifa, Karachi during a period extending from July 1998 to June 1999.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients presenting with symptoms/signs of chronic gastritis were included in the study. Specimens of dental plaque and gastric biopsy were collected from all the patients. The dental plaque specimen was processed for helicourease test and the gastric biopsy specimens were processed both for the helicourease test and histopathology.

RESULTS

Out of all patients studied (n=52), 32 (61.53%) were positive for helicourease test with gastric biopsy while 48 (92.30%) were positive with dental plaque. The histopathology of gastric biopsy showed H. pylori associated chronic active gastritis in 42 (80.76%) patients. Eight (15.38%) patients showed chronic active gastritis which was not associated with H. pylori while in 2 (3.84%) patients the gastric biopsy specimen was unremarkable.

CONCLUSION

Majority of the patients have possible H. pylori colonization in dental plaque while about two-thirds have H. pylori associated chronic active gastritis. Oral cavity may be the first place for colonization and then the infection involves the gastric mucosa.