Effect of nonsurgical periodontal therapy on the eradication of gastric Helicobacter pylori infection: A randomized clinical trial

Abstract

Background. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of "a combined systemic and nonsurgical periodontal treatment" in eradicating gastric Helicobacter pylori in patients having the bacterium within their subgingival biofilm. Methods. This randomized clinical trial (RCT) investigated 102 patients diagnosed with peptic ulcer or dyspepsia and a positive stomach test for H. pylori infection (G +). Participants with a negative test for oral infection received only triple therapy (G3, n = 38), and those positive for oral infection were randomly allocated to one of the two treatment regimens: a 14-day course of triple therapy (comprising antibiotics, antimicrobials, and proton pump inhibitors) alongside periodontal therapy (G1, n = 32) or triple therapy alone (G2, n = 32). The effectiveness of H. pylori eradication was assessed four weeks after treatment using the H. pylori stool antigen (stool Ag) test. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 22. Results. In the G2 and G3 groups, triple therapy achieved success rates of 52 and 84, respectively. When periodontal therapy was integrated with triple therapy in the G1 group, the success rate was 80. Significant differences were observed between the G1 and G2 groups (P = 0.037) and also between the G3 and G2 groups (P = 0.015). Conversely, no significant difference was found between the G1 and G3 groups (P> 0.05). Conclusion. Periodontal therapy has the potential to substantially increase the efficacy of H. pylori eradication regimens for gastric infections.