The role of adenotonsillar tissues as a reservoir for Helicobacter pylori and Helicobacter hepaticus

AIM The aim of current study is to investigate whether tonsillar and/or adenoid tissue of patients with chronic adenotonsillitis plays a reservoir role for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) or Helicobacter hepaticus (H. hepaticus). BACKGROUND Recently, there have been arguments ragarding Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) being reserved in adenotonsillar tissue. PATIENTS AND METHODS This study was performed with 90 patients with the diagnosis of chronic tonsillitis and adenoid hypertrophy, mean age 36 ± 22, 32 (36%) female and 58(64%) male. Presence of H. pylori and H.hepaticus were detected by glmM gene and 16S rRNA specific primers respectively. RESULTS Of all patients 58 (65%) were found seropositive for H. pylori IgG while only 7(8%) patients had gentile gastrointestinal (GI) symptom, all gastritis. H. pylori and H.hepaticus was not detected in any of the patients by PCR. CONCLUSION There was no correlation between GI symptom and/or seropositivity of H. pylori with presence of H. pylori and H. hepaticus in adenotonsillar tissues. Our results did not support the role of adenotonsills as a reservoir for H. pylori or H. hepaticus.