Effect of Helicobacter pylori infection on the first-line treatment
outcomes in patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura
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. pylori infection 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. pylori
eradication therapy is comparable between H. pylori–positive and H.
pylori–negative patients. Keywords: Helicobacter pylori, immune
thrombocytopenic purpura, first-line treatment