Abstract

 Background and Objectives

 Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) has recently been postulated to play a role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases including immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). In the present study, we looked for an association between H.pylori infection and chronicity of ITP in adults with acute ITP.

 Materials and Methods

 Twelve patients with positive and 12 patients with negative urea breath test (UBT) for H. pylori infection aged 14 years and older with acute ITP and a platelet count below 100×10³/μL were enrolled in this cohort study. All patients with platelet counts < 30×10³/μL were treated with corticosteroid. After two weeks, platelet count started to be monitored at the baseline every month for 1 year. After 6 months, ITP patients with a platelet count recovery of greater than 100×10³/μL were defined as ITP responders. The data were analyzed by Chi-square test and independent sample T-test with SPSS 11.5.

 Results

 There were no significant differences between the mean age and sex of the infected and non-infected patients. At the baseline, the mean platelet counts of the infected and non-infected patients were 7.3 ± 5.3×10³/μL and 6.4 ± 3.3×10³/μL, respectively. No significant difference was seen between the mean platelet count of the infected and non-infected patients after 6 months.

 Conclusions

 Although there was a greater rate of chronicity in the infected patients, it was not statistically significant. Therefore, we found no evidence of any association between H.pylori infection and chronicity of ITP . Further studies on larger number of patients with longer follow-up are recommended.

 Keywords : Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura, Helicobacter pylori, Autoimmune Diseases