Abstract
Background: Sjogren’s syndrome (SS) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of exocrine glands,
which can be triggered by environmental factors such as viral infection. Chronic obstructive sialadenitis is the most common type of
chronic sialadenitis and many different bacterial infections develop as a result of ductal obstruction.
Objectives: This study was conducted to assess the association of these lesions with the presence of Helicobacter pylori.
Patients and Methods: A total of 56 biopsies diagnosed as Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and chronic sialadenitis (CS) due to sialolithiasis in
submandibular glands, sublingual and minor salivary glands were selected (56 samples as examined group and 20 samples as control
group). All the paraffin blocks were cut for hematoxylin and eosin (H and E) staining to confirm the diagnoses and then the samples were
prepared for immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining to detect H. pylori. Chi-squared test was used for statistical analysis.
Results: Chi-squared test showed a significant difference between H. pylori positivity in the groups examined (P = 0.046) and between
SS group and normal tissue samples (P = 0.013). There was no significant difference between gender and H. pylori positivity in examined
groups examined (P = 0.574, P = 0.543, respectively). In addition, there was no significant difference between gender and H. pylori positivity
in SS group (P = 0.119, P = 0.331, respectively) also in CS group (P = 0.981, P = 0.571).
Conclusions: Bacterial infection has been suggested in the pathogenesis of both SS and CS. In addition, H. pylori is a resident of the oral
cavity, thus may be involved in the development and progression of these lesions. Hence, search for H. pylori antibody in blood of patients
with SS is suggested.