The role of adenotonsillar tissues as a reservoir for Helicobacter pylori and Helicobacter hepaticus

Aim: The aim of current study is to investigate whether tonsillar and/or adenoid tissue of patients with chronic adenotonsillitis plays a reservoir role for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) or Helicobacter hepaticus (H. hepaticus). Background: Recently, there have been arguments ragarding Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) being reserved in adenotonsillar tissue. Patients and methods: This study was performed with 90 patients with the diagnosis of chronic tonsillitis and adenoid hypertrophy, mean age 36 ± 22, 32 (36%) female and 58(64%) male. Presence of H. pylori and H.hepaticus were detected by glmM gene and 16S rRNA specific primers respectively. Results: Of all patients 58 (65%) were found seropositive for H. pylori IgG while only 7(8%) patients had gentile gastrointestinal (GI) symptom, all gastritis. H. pylori and H.hepaticus was not detected in any of the patients by PCR. Conclusion: There was no correlation between GI symptom and/or seropositivity of H. pylori with presence of H. pylori and H. hepaticus in adenotonsillar tissues. Our results did not support the role of adenotonsills as a reservoir for H. pylori or H. hepaticus. © 2011 RIGLD, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases.