title: Molecular detection of Helicobacter pylori in oral samples from patients suffering digestive pathologies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to determine the simultaneous presence of H. pylori in both the oral cavity and gastric mucosal in patients suffering digestive pathologies and to establish the possible association between the presence of H. pylori in the oral cavity and the gingivoperiodontal pathology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with gastric symptoms (case group) and asymptomatic patients (control group) seen at the Gastroenterology Department of Dr. Julio C. Perrando Hospital (Resistencia, Argentina) were selected. Dental plaque and saliva samples from both groups were obtained. In the case group, gastric biopsy samples were also taken. H. pylori was detected in gastric biopsies by histological stains, and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was carried out on the oral samples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 98 patients (43 cases and 55 controls), 196 oral samples (saliva 98, dental plaque 98) and 43 gastric biopsias were obtained. H. pylori was detected in oral samples in 18/98 patients, in gastric biopsies in 38/43 patients, and in both samples in 15/43 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of H. pylori in the oral cavity of patients suffering digestive pathologies is more frequent in those patients harbouring a gingivoperiodontal disease, and this fact could represent an obstacle for the eradication of the bacterium. At the same time, it could constitute a risk factor for gastrointestinal reinfection after treatment.
authors.affiliation: Course of Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Corrientes, Argentina.
authors.forename: Myriam-Lucrecia
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Medina
authors.forename: Marcelo-Gabriel
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Medina
authors.forename: Graciela-Teresita
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Martín
authors.forename: Santiago-Omar
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Picón
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bancalari
authors.forename: Luis-Antonio
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Merino
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology*; D004066:Digestive System Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology*; D055815:Young Adult