Introduction: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a pathogen which is capable of colonizing the gastric mucosa and is associated with some pathological changes that may lead to dyspeptic manifestations. Recently, H. pylori was found to be present in the oral cavity and there was a growing body of evidence that the organism is linked to some dental diseases such as periodontitis and gingivitis. Materials and Method: In this study, 123 patients were investigated to explore the possible relationship between the presence of oral H. pylori and gastric dyspepsia. Patients were classified into oral disease group (viz. gingivitis and periodontitis) or gastric disease group (viz. gastritis, gastric ulcer, and duodenal ulcer). A third group had neither had oral nor gastric disease. Based on the presence or absence of H. pylori, patients were also classified as having either oral, gastric, or both oral and gastric organism. Some of the patients were neither having oral nor gastric infection. Results: 59 patients showed the presence of H. pylori in the gastro-duodenal area, 7 showed presence of oral H. pylori, whereas 18 patients showed H. pylori in both gastro- duodenal and oral specimens. Differences between groups were not statistically significant. Conclusions: Although there was a suggestion of a clinical and laboratory evidence of an association between the presence of oral H. pylori and the studied gastric diseases, this association was not statistically significant.
Key-words:
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) - Gingivitis - Periodontitis - Gastritis - Gastric ulcer - Duodenal ulcer
