The association between conjunctival MALT lymphoma and Helicobacter pylori.
OBJECTIVE
Helicobacter pylori is well known to be responsible for gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. This study evaluates whether H pylori is also responsible for conjunctival MALT lymphoma and which strain of H pylori is associated with conjunctival MALT lymphoma.


METHODS
Fifteen cases of conjunctival MALT lymphoma were investigated. Eight biopsies of normal conjunctiva were also investigated as controls. The specimens were investigated for the presence of H pylori DNA with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using 16S rDNA primer. When the PCR using 16S rDNA was positive for H pylori, the specimens were analysed for the virulent gene with PCR using vacA s1/2 primer and vacA m1/2 primer.


RESULTS
H pylori DNA was identified in all 15 specimens of conjunctival MALT lymphomas and none of the controls. Of these 15 H pylori positive lymphoma specimens, the vacA s1 and vacA m2 alleles were detected in two, and only vacA s1 allele was detected in 11.


CONCLUSIONS
H pylori is thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of conjunctival MALT lymphoma, and H pylori with vacA s1 allele appears to be a virulent strain for conjunctival MALT lymphoma.
Lee
Sung-Bok
SB
Department of Ophthalmology, Chungnam National University Hospital, #640 Daesa-dong, Jung-gu, Daejeon 301-721, Korea. kcs61@cnu.ac.kr
Yang
Jae-Wook
JW
Kim
Chang-Sik
CS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003230:Conjunctival Neoplasms / Q000382:microbiology*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D018442:Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone / Q000382:microbiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000032:analysis
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S