Assessment of the Possible Correlation between the Presence of Helicobacter Pylori Infection and Hairy Tongue Lesion in a Group of Patients in Syria: A Cross-Sectional and Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between the presence of hairy tongue and H. pylori infection in patients referring to their blood test based on the serum levels of anti-H pylori IgG antibodies. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Oral Medicine, University of Damascus Dental School, between February 2021 and January 2022. The sample size of 40 patients (23 males, 17 females), whose ages ranged from 20-79 years with a mean age of 41.5 ± 12 years, was calculated using the G*power 3.1.3, with a statistical power of 80% and a significance level of 0.05. The hairy tongue index was assessed by a visual method based on observing the dorsum tongue appearance. Then, a blood test was performed to detect the presence of H. pylori by Immulite 2000 XPi. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software 22.0, Chi-square. RESULTS: The prevalence of hairy tongue was higher among males (75%) as compared to females (25%) and was found to be statistically significant (p = 0.026). The hairy tongue lesions were found to be least in the 20-39 age group and most prevalent in the 40-59 age group, without statistically significant correlation. H. pylori infection was detected positive in 70% and negative in 30% of hairy tongue patients, compared to the control group, where the rates were 15% and 85%, respectively, with a statistically significant correlation between infection with H. pylori and hairy tongue (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our results strongly suggest that the hairy tongue might be considered an indicator of H. pylori infection.

Study of some salivary changes in cutaneous psoriatic patients.

OBJECTIVE: To assess any alteration in the levels of some salivary components, and to correlate the same with the severity of the disease. METHODS: Unstimulated whole saliva samples were collected and analyzed in 20 randomly selected Syrian uncomplicated psoriatic patients presenting to the Dermatological Diseases Hospital, Damascus University, Syria between February and June 2010, and in 20 healthy matched controls. Sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), chloride (Cl-), and alpha amylase (sAA) was analyzed. The salivary flow rates (SFR) and pH was also studied. The Psoriasis Area and Severity Index was used to assess the severity of the disease. Student t-test and correlation coefficients (r) were used to compare differences between groups. RESULTS: The SFR and pH were normal in both groups. Psoriatics had significantly higher K+ and sAA concentrations (K+ mean = 21.38 mmol/L, sAA mean = 64.26 IU/ml) than the controls (K+ mean = 17.69 mmol/L, sAA mean = 43.14 IU/ml), whereas there was no significant rise in the other salivary ions studied. Neither the severity nor the duration of the disease showed correlation to the according variables. No differences were observed between the age and the gender for each of the studied variables. CONCLUSION: Psoriasis patients have higher concentration rates of salivary potassium ions and sAA compared with the controls. However, these salivary changes are not related to the severity or the duration of this dermatological disease. Further studies are required to support these results.