RESUMO
To identify the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori [H. pylori] infection in patients with Sjogren's syndrome [SS] and its correlation with clinical and laboratory parameters of the disease as an implication for handling these patients from the diagnostic point of view. Four groups of patients were studied. Group I, 22 patients with primary SS; Group II, 21 patients with secondary SS; Group III, 30 patients with various connective tissue diseases not suffering from sicca symptoms, and Group IV, 30 healthy controls. Clinical assessment was done and a score for disease manifestation was given for every SS patient. Serum IgG and IgM antibodies to H. pylori were assessed by ELISA. The prevalence of H. pylori infection [Ig G anti H-pylori positive] in patients with SS was in group I [81.8%] and in group II [80.9%], both were significantly higher than in group III [60.6%] and group IV [56.7%] [p<0.01]. The mean titer for both Ig G and Ig M anti H-pylori were significantly higher in group I [3.86 +/- 0.079, 3.67 +/- 0.46] and group II [3.27 +/- 0.9, 2.8 +/- 0.57] than in group III [1.96 +/- 0.83, 0.83 +/- 0.64] and group IV [1.21 +/- 0.54, 0.51 +/- 0.7] [p<0.001]. There was a significant correlation between H. pylori infection and age, disease duration, global score for disease status and C reactive protein [CRP] in SS patients. On the other hand there was a non significant correlation with ESR. Patients with Sjogren's Syndrome are more prone to have H. pylori infection in comparison to other connective tissue diseases. Serum antibody titer to H. pylori correlated with index for clinical disease manifestations, CRP and disease duration. Assessment of H. pylori infection in patients who are suffering from primary SS for relatively longer duration [more than 3 years] is recommended