Helicobacter Pylori and Laryngopharyngeal Reflux in Chronic Rhinosinusitis

Objective

Investigation of the potential role of several laryngopharyngeal reflux contents in sinus disease.

Study design and setting

A controlled cohort analysis of Helicobacter pylori, pepsin and pepsinogen I in inflamed and non-inflamed sinonasal tissue. Fifteen patients, selected for surgery due to chronic medically refractory rhinosinusitis, had their pathologic sinus tissue analyzed for polymerase chain reaction detection of H. pylori DNA and assayed for pepsin and pepsinogen I tissue concentration levels. A control group of 5 patients undergoing surgery for anatomic sinonasal abnormalities provided non-inflammatory mucosa specimens for comparison.

Results

H. pylori was found scattered in inflamed and non-inflamed mucosa, whereas sinonasal tissue pepsin/pepsinogen never rose above blood levels in both groups.

Conclusions

Evidence of intra-operative peptic reflux into the sinuses was not found. As H. pylori was similarly encountered in healthy and diseased sinus mucosa, it seemingly fails to support a pathogenic role for this organism in the sinuses.

EBM rating: B-2b