Helicobacter pylori in the oral cavity is associated with gastroesophageal disease.

Background: In Mexico, more than 80% of the population is infected with Helicobacter pylori. The frequency of H. pylori detection in the oral cavity is unknown, as its relationship with gastroesophageal pathology.

Aim: To detect the presence of H. pylori in the oral cavity in Mexican population by PCR and to determine its association with gastroesophageal disease.

Methods: Patients were divided into two groups with different clinic conditions from whom gastric biopsy, dental plaque, and saliva samples were taken and analyzed. The first group comprised of hospitalized patients, the majority of whom were diagnosed with gastroesophageal disease, while the second group was selected from a dental clinic (ambulatory population) the majority of whom appeared to be healthy subjects.

Results: H. pylori was detected in gastric biopsy, dental plaque and saliva samples by PCR using a set of specific primers for the signal sequence of the vacuolating cytotoxin gene; detection of H. pylori in general was higher in gastric biopsy and dental plaque samples than in saliva samples. Detection of H. pylori in the oral cavity is significantly (P = 0.0001) associated with patients presenting gastroesophageal disease, while healthy subjects and those with other non-gastric disease do not present with H. pylori in their oral cavity.

Conclusions: H. pylori detection in the oral cavity is associated to gastroesophageal disease. In addition, it is suggested that all patients presenting gastric symptoms and H. pylori detection in the oral cavity would begin bacterial treatment immediately.