Absence of Helicobacter pylori in healthy laryngeal mucosa.

Objectives: To evaluate the presence of Helicobacter pylori in healthy laryngeal mucosa.

Design: Prospective analysis of Helicobacter pylori colonisation in healthy laryngeal mucosa, using the 13C 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 for Helicobacter pylori DNA detection. Nested polymerase chain reaction testing was performed on DNA solutions using two primer pairs from the urease A gene of the Helicobacter pylori genome. The 13C 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 for Helicobacter pylori DNA on polymerase chain reaction testing.

Conclusion: Based on these results, we do not consider Helicobacter pylori to be a normal constituent of healthy laryngeal microflora.