Absence ofHelicobacter pyloriin healthy laryngeal mucosa
AbstractObjectives:To evaluate the presence ofHelicobacter pyloriin healthy laryngeal mucosa.Design:Prospective analysis ofHelicobacter pyloricolonisation in healthy laryngeal mucosa, using the13C urea breath test and polymerase chain reaction analysis.Subjects:Twenty randomly chosen men (28–78 years) without laryngeal pathology or gastrointestinal disease were investigated. All subjects were scheduled for elective operative procedures, under general, endotracheal anaesthesia. Cytobrush samples were taken forHelicobacter pyloriDNA detection. Nested polymerase chain reaction testing was performed on DNA solutions using two primer pairs from the urease A gene of theHelicobacter pylorigenome. The13C urea breath test was performed on two exhalation samples.Results:Eight (40 per cent) of the subjects were positive for urease on urea breath testing; none were positive forHelicobacter pyloriDNA on polymerase chain reaction testing.Conclusion:Based on these results, we do not considerHelicobacter pylorito be a normal constituent of healthy laryngeal microflora.