The role of helicobacter pylori in oropharyngeal/epipharyngeal pathology and pathogenesis in relation to ORL diseases
Abstract
Helicobacter pylori (HP) is a gram negative, microaerophilic bacterium. This bacterium is associated with chronic gastritis, gastric ulcers and gastric carcinoma.
HP infection is often acquired in childhood. High prevalence of HP infection was reported in developing countries.
The prevalence in Central and Eastern Europe is estimated from 60 to 90%. The question of colonization of oro/epipharyngeal lymphatic tissue has been recently discussed.
HP was detected in dental plaque, saliva, adenoid tissue in children, palatines and middle ear fluid. The most sensitive technique for HP detection is PCR, specifically real - time PCR.
The role of HP in oropharyngeal carcinogenesis remains unresolved. This theory is based on the fact that HP induces cytokine production, esp.
EGF, TGF and NOS, which involves cell proliferation and tumour transformation. Possible modes of transmission of bacteria have not been fully explained.
Person to person transmission can occur through several routes, e.g., oral-oral and fecal-oral route. The association between simultaneous colonization of HP in the oral cavity and that in stomach has not been understood yet.
Some scientific works showed the difference in genotypes between oropharyngeal and gastric isolates. Our review shows recent results of scientific works about HP in oropharynx, relationship between oro/epipharyngeal and gastric HP infection and discusses the value of diagnostic tests for HP detection.