Effects of Helicobacter pylori eradication in patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura.
10.5045/kjh.2010.45.2.127
- Author:
Hee Sang TAG
1
;
Ho Sup LEE
;
Su Hyeon JUNG
;
Bu Kyung KIM
;
Sung Bin KIM
;
Aeran LEE
;
Jin Soo LEE
;
Seong Hoon SHIN
;
Yang Soo KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea. hs3667@hanmail.net
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Helicobacter pylori;
Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura;
Platelet counts
- MeSH:
Blood Platelets;
Breath Tests;
Helicobacter;
Helicobacter pylori;
Humans;
Male;
Platelet Count;
Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic;
Urea
- From:Korean Journal of Hematology
2010;45(2):127-132
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: The relationship between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) has been confirmed; however, no clear evidence for the effectiveness of H. pylori eradication on ITP exists thus far. The purpose of this study was to investigate platelet recovery in chronic ITP after H. pylori eradication. METHODS: A total of 25 patients (18 male, 7 female; the median age of 55 years) diagnosed with ITP, whose platelet counts were less than 100x10(3)/microliter, were enrolled. They were tested for H. pylori infection by the rapid urea test or urea breath test. All patients received triple therapy for 7 or 14 days to eradicate H. pylori infection. RESULTS: Of the 25 patients, 23 (92%) were diagnosed with H. pylori infection. Of all the ITP patients, 11 (44%) exhibited a complete response (CR) to H. pylori eradication therapy; 6 (24%), a partial response (PR); and 8 (32%) were nonresponsive (NR). Predictive factors of response after H. pylori eradication therapy were platelet counts at the initial response (27.3% responders among patients with platelet counts <100x10(3)/microliter vs 100% responders among patients with platelet counts > or =100x10(3)/microliter, P<0.001) and H. pylori infectivity (73.9% responders among the H. pylori positive patients vs 0% responders among the H. pylori negative patients, P=0.032). CONCLUSION: This study confirmed the efficacy of H. pylori eradication in increasing the platelet count in ITP patients. Further studies with a larger number of patients are necessary to identify the crucial predictive factors responsible for platelet recovery in chronic ITP patients with the H. pylori infection.
