ABSTRACT
Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori )
eradication therapy is known to increase the platelet count, but in
immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), the effect of H. pyloriinfection on the response to treatment is not clear. This study aims to
determine whether the response to the first–line treatment is affected
by the states of H. pylori –positivity and –negativity in ITP
patients.
Methods: Adult newly diagnosed or chronic ITP patients who had
not received eradication therapy for H. pylori infection were
included. Characteristics of the patients, presence and severity of
bleeding, initial platelet count, administered treatments, and treatment
response rates were inspected.
Results: Of 119 total patients, 32 (26.9%) were H.
pylori –positive, 87 (73.1%) were H. pylori –negative. The most
common treatment was standard–dose steroid in both groups (62.5% vs
68.9%, p=0.524). Rates of complete response, partial response, no
response were comparable for the two groups (respectively, 75% vs
73.6%, and 18.8% vs 19.5%, and 6.2% vs 6.9%), and there was no
significant difference between the groups (p=0.283).
Conclusion: It can be stated according to the present study
that; in ITP patients in whom treatment is indicated, the response to
the first–line treatment without the administration of H. pylorieradication therapy is comparable between H. pylori –positive andH. pylori –negative patients.
Keywords: Helicobacter pylori, immune thrombocytopenic
purpura, first-line treatment