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Br J Ophthalmol 2008;92:534-536 doi:10.1136/bjo.2007.132316
  • Original Article
    • Laboratory science

The association between conjunctival MALT lymphoma and Helicobacter pylori

  1. Sung-Bok Lee1,2,3,
  2. Jae-Wook Yang4,
  3. Chang-Sik Kim1,2
  1. 1
    Department of Ophthalmology, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
  2. 2
    Research Institute for Medical Science, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
  3. 3
    Cancer Research Institute, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
  4. 4
    Department of Ophthalmology, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea
  1. Chang-Sik Kim, Department of Ophthalmology, Chungnam National University Hospital, #640 Daesa-dong, Jung-gu, Daejeon 301-721, Korea; kcs61{at}cnu.ac.kr
  • Accepted 24 January 2008

Abstract

Background/aims: Helicobacter pylori is well known to be responsible for gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. This study evaluates whether H pylori is also responsible for conjunctival MALT lymphoma and which strain of H pylori is associated with conjunctival MALT lymphoma.

Methods: Fifteen cases of conjunctival MALT lymphoma were investigated. Eight biopsies of normal conjunctiva were also investigated as controls. The specimens were investigated for the presence of H pylori DNA with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using 16S rDNA primer. When the PCR using 16S rDNA was positive for H pylori, the specimens were analysed for the virulent gene with PCR using vacA s1/2 primer and vacA m1/2 primer.

Results: H pylori DNA was identified in all 15 specimens of conjunctival MALT lymphomas and none of the controls. Of these 15 H pylori positive lymphoma specimens, the vacA s1 and vacA m2 alleles were detected in two, and only vacA s1 allele was detected in 11.

Conclusions: H pylori is thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of conjunctival MALT lymphoma, and H pylori with vacA s1 allele appears to be a virulent strain for conjunctival MALT lymphoma.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: None.

  • Ethics approval: This study was approved by the institutional research board of Chungnam National University Hospital and Inje University Busan Paik Hospital.

  • Patient consent: All patients gave written informed consent after the aim of the study and operation had been fully explained.

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