Usefulness of Helicobacter Pylori Eradication for Platelet Recovery in Egyptian Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura Patients

Background: Recent studies have shown a relationship between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura(ITP). Objectives: To clarify the relation between H. pylori and ITP, determine its prevalence in this disease and to evaluate the effect of its eradication on platelet recovery. Subjects and methods: 65 adult patients with ITP (platelet count < 100 x 10(3)/mu l) were investigated for the presence of H. pylori infection and its eradication by H pylori stool antigen (HpSA) enzyme immunoassay method (EIA). H. pylori positive patients received standard triple therapy for seven days to eradicate infection. Platelet counts were monitored every 2 weeks and assessed 6 months after the end of H. pylori eradication therapy. Uninfected patients underwent immunosuppressive therapy and their platelet counts were followed up for the same duration. Results: 45/ 65 ITP patients, were H. pylori positive. They were significantly older and showed longer disease duration than H. pylori negative patients. There was significant increase in platelet count in both group after treatment and this increase was significantly higher in H. pylori positive group than negative one. Out of the 45 infected patients who received treatment, H. pylori was successfully eradicated in 39 patients. In 21 (53.8\%) of these patients, significant good platelet response was detected when compared with unsuccessfully treated and H. pylori negative patients. Conclusion: Eradication of H. pylori infection led to good platelet response in ITP patients. Therefore, search for this infection must be attempted in ITP patients at diagnosis which will allow a good non immunosuppressive option for some of them. {[}Hosneia Kh. Akl, Hanan E. Mohamed, Hoda A. El-Hady Usefulness of Helicobacter Pylori Eradication for Platelet Recovery in Egyptian Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura Patients] Life Science Journal 2012; 9(1):825-829]. (ISSN: 1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com. 119