Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) Eradication

In 1998, Gasbarrini et al. reported that eradication therapy for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) increased platelet counts in most H. pylori-positive immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) patients. A large number of retrospective and prospective studies have since been performed in order to evaluate the efficacy of eradication therapy. A positive relationship was reported between ITP and H. pylori infection, and the eradication of H. pylori resulted in a significant increase in platelet counts in more than 50% of eradication-successful ITP cases. These results suggest that H. pylori infection is involved in the mechanisms underlying thrombocytopenia.