Helicobacter pylori in the oral mucosa of patients submitted to allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Jeane De Fátima Correia-Silva,Carolina Cavaliéri Gomes,Alessandra Rosa De Sá,Ricardo Santiago Gomez,Júnia Maria Neto Victória,André Luiz Sena Guimarães,Humberto Corrêa De Almeida

doi:10.1590/s1806-83242006000300002

Jeane De Fátima Correia-Silva, Carolina Cavaliéri Gomes + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s1806-83242006000300002

Copy DOI

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the impact of haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) on Helicobacter pylori colonization of the oral mucosa by nested polymerase chain reaction (nested-PCR). Forty six consecutive patients submitted to HSCT and 46 healthy volunteers were included in the study. Oral swabs were taken from the oral mucosa of the patients and control group. The medical records of the patients were reviewed and the following information was retrieved: gender and age of the patient, donor gender, primary disease, stem cell source (bone marrow or blood stem cells), leukocyte, neutrophil and platelet counts, and chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD) of salivary glands. The results demonstrated an increased frequency of H. pylori in the oral mucosa of HSCT patients compared to controls (rho = 0.002). The presence of H. pylori in the oral mucosa was not related to the severity of cGVHD. The median counts of platelet/mm3, leukocytes/mm3 and neutrophils/mm3 in the group of HSCT patients positive for H. pylori were not statistically different from those of the patients negative for it. In conclusion, the present study shows increased frequency of H. pylori in the oral mucosa of HSCT patients compared to non-transplanted healthy volunteers.

Highlights

Helicobacter pylori is accepted as the major cause of chronic active gastritis, duodenal and gastric ulceration[4], and is associated with the development of gastric carcinoma[18]
The results demonstrate a positive association between haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) patients and the presence of H. pylori in the oral mucosa (ρ = 0.002)
The patients were scored for chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) of salivary glands and categorized according to the presence of H. pylori in the oral mucosa (Table 3)

Summary

Introduction

Helicobacter pylori is accepted as the major cause of chronic active gastritis, duodenal and gastric ulceration[4], and is associated with the development of gastric carcinoma[18]. H. pylori has been detected in dental plaque, saliva and the subgingival region[10,15], and there have been reports that H. pylori strains in the mouth and stomach are identical[17]. The mouth has been considered as an alternative reservoir for H. pylori[16]. People carrying H. pylori have an increased risk of developing peptic. Helicobacter pylori in the oral mucosa of patients submitted to allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Braz Oral Res 2006;20(3):[191-5]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion