The presence of Helicobacter pylori in cervical preinvasive lesions.
OBJECTIVE
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is believed to play a role in several gynecological and obstetric pathologies since the cervical mucosa resembles the gastric environment. The microorganism is expected to infect the upper genital tract via the oral-genital and fecal-genital routes.


METHODS
We studied 35 cases with benign, ASCUS, ASC-H, LSIL and HSIL pap-smear results. The presence of H. pylori in the uterine cervix and active infection were investigated with the H. pylori stool antigen test. Biopsy specimens were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and Warthin-Starry stains to find H. pylori in cervical tissue. Seroprevalence was investigated by using ELISA for H. pylori IgG and IgA.


RESULTS
The H. pylori seroprevalence was 65.7%; further, 17.1% of the cases had an active infection. H. pylori was not found in the cervix or the cervicovaginal secretions.


CONCLUSIONS
The cervix is not a reservoir for H. pylori, and the microorganism does not appear to be transmitted through the fecal-genital route.
Kaya
T
T
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Uludag University Medical Faculty, Bursa, Turkey.
Ozan
H
H
Ozakin
C
C
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D012698:Serologic Tests; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000382:microbiology*; D055815:Young Adult; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000382:microbiology*