EFFECT OF ERADICATION OF HELICOBACTER PYLORI INFECTION ON THE PLATELET COUNTS IN PATIENTS PRESENTING WITH IDIOPATHIC THROMBOCYTOPENIC PURPURA

Background: Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a rare autoimmune disease characterized by the platelet destruction that is autoantibody mediated, and there is suboptimal platelet production in the absence of a known cause, this leads to decreased peripheral blood platelet counts or thrombocytopenia and Helicobacter pylori has direct association with ITP. The aim of this study was to see the platelet recovery in patients of ITP after the H. pylori infection eradication. Methods: This was a case control study and 120 ITP patients who tested positive for H. pylori (divided into age and sex matched treatment and the control groups) were enrolled from the outdoor patients (OPD) of Sheikh Zayed Medical Complex. Stool antigen (HpSA) enzyme immunoassay method (EIA) method was used for H. pylori detection. Results: The response of the platelet count in the treatment group was a ‘complete response’ in 35 (60.3%) patients, a partial response in 16 (27.6%) patients and no response was found in 7 (12.1%) cases. However, no remarkable change was seen in the platelet counts of the patients in the control group. Conclusion: Complete eradication of H. pylori helps in the recovery of H. pylori induced platelet reduction and detection and eradication of H. pylori infection should be considered in the work-up of patients with ITP. Keywords: Eradication therapy, H. pylori, Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura, Platelet counts Thrombocytopenia Pak J Physiol 2017;13(2):41–3