Helicobacter pylori is a gram-negative bacillus causing benign and malignant gastric diseases such as gastroesophageal reflux (GER). In larynx, H. pylori causes chronic inflammation and mucosal destruction that may lead to malignant changes. Although, H. pylori poses several virulence factors, cagA is probably the main factor in this regard. To evaluate the role of cagA gene in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC), a case-control study was conducted on patients with laryngeal complaints during 2010-2012. Seventy-two patients with LSCC (case group) and 72 patients without malignancy (control group) were included in the study. The H. pylori and cagA factor were assessed in laryngeal specimen of patients with PCR technique. 33 % of patients in case group (24 patients) and 45.8 % (33 patients) of control group were positive for H. pylori. CagA gene was present in 13.8 % (10 patients) of case group specimens and 31.9 % (23 patients) of control group. This difference was statistically significant with Mantel-Haenszel statistical test analyses. The results showed that patients with LSCC have significantly lower incidence of laryngeal H. pylori infection and cagA virulence factor than those without LSCC. Findings from this study support the protective effect of H. pylori infection against laryngeal cancer.
Osler-Weber-Rendu disease, also referred to as hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia, is a genetic disease, an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by telangiectasias and aneurysms with primary involvement of the mucosa. The reported prevalence of this disease is 1-2 cases per 100 000 population [1]. The disease most commonly occurs in white patients, but has also been described in patients of Asian, African and Arab descent, and occurs with equal frequency and severity in both sexes. The syndrome most often presents by the third decade of life, but may be clinically silent [1,2]. History of epistaxis is noted in 50%-90% of affected patients. Telangiectasias are most commonly seen on nail beds, palms, lips, tongue, ears, face and chest skin. Similar findings on other skin and mucosal surfaces may be seen in this syndrome [3-5]. We describe 3 males from a single family affected with Osler-Weber-Rendu disease. The proband case had been admitted to a general hospital with primary presentation of severe chronic anaemia and with a history of blood transfusion and diagnosis of peptic ulcer. Diagnosis of this syndrome was considered when the patient was referred for dermatologic consultation because there were some telangiectatic vasculae on his earlobe.
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