Journal List > Korean J Hematol > v.40(1) > 1032637

Kim, Nam, Bang, Lee, Do, Kwon, Song, Ryoo, Bae, Kim, Lee, Hyun, Yuh, Park, Lee, Yoon, Park, and Kim: The Clinical Efficacy of Helicobacter pylori Eradication in Patients with Helicobacter pylori-positive Chronic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Abstract

Background

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of some autoimmune diseases including idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Several studies have recently shown a high prevalence of H. pylori infection in patients with ITP, and reported platelet recovery after bacterial eradication therapy. The prevalence of H. pylori infection, and the effect of its eradication, in Korean patients with chronic ITP were investigated.

Methods

The study included 35 patients, from 8 hospitals, with chronic ITP. The H. pylori infection was assessed by the urea breath test, rapid urease test or microbial culture. H. pylori eradication was performed with the amoxicillin, clarithromycin and omeprazole regimen for 7 days, or the bismuth, metronidazole and tetracycline regimen for 10 days. Eradication was assessed by urea breath test 4 weeks

Results

Thirty five patients with chronic ITP were evaluated, including 12 males and 23 females, with a median age of 57 years (range 30~79). The median platelet count before eradication was 23,000/μL (range 4,000~66,000/μL). Sixteen patients had previously undergone a splenectomy. The H. pylori infection was found in 23 (65%) of the 35 patients. Eradication, was performed in 21 patients, and 6 (28.5%) had a significant increase in their platelet counts after both 2 weeks and 2 months. The median response duration was 7.6 months, ranging from 1~27 months.

Conclusion

This study confirmed the efficacy of H. pylori eradication in increasing the platelet count in adult chronic ITP patients. The investigation and eradication of H. pylori infection in ITP patients must be considered a simple and inexpensive tool in management of this chronic disease.

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Fig. 1.
Courses of platelet counts in responsive patients after eradication. Day 0 indicates the first day of initial eradication treatment.
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Table 1.
Patients characteristics
Total number of patients 35
Sex (male/female) 12/23
Age (range/median, years) 30~79/57
H. pylori infectivity
 (+) 23
 (-) 12
Platelet count (range/median, μL) 4,000~66,000/23,000
No of previous treatment
 0 3
 1 9
 2 8
 ≥3 15
Splenectomy 16
Eradication regimen
 CAO 13
 BMT 8
Time from diagnosis to eraddication (range/median, years) 0.6~19/2.6

CHO, clarithromycin; amoxicillin, omeprazole; BMT

bismuth, metronidazole, tetracycline.

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