Chronic pruritus associated with Helicobacter pylori.
BACKGROUND
Helicobacter pylori is an established cause of gastritis and has been implicated in extradigestive diseases.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of H. pylori in patients with unexplained refractory pruritus.


METHODS
Ten patients with severe pruritus unresponsive to conventional therapy were evaluated for active H. pylori infection by H. pylori serology followed by either esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) or urea breath test. Of the 10 patients, 8 were found to have active infection. All 10 received anti-H. pylori antibiotic therapy and were reevaluated for relief of pruritus.


RESULTS
Of 8 patients with active H. pylori infection, 87.5% (7/8) had some type of pruritus relief after triple therapy. Of these, 62.5% (5/8) had complete relief and 25% (2/8) had temporary relief of pruritus. The remaining 12.5% (1/8) did not respond. Two control patients without active H. pylori infection had no relief of pruritus with therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
We have identified a population of patients with refractory pruritus and active H. pylori infection whose pruritus resolved after eradication of H. pylori.
Kandyil
Roshini
R
University of Texas-Houston Medical School, Houston, Texas, USA.
Satya
Nadia S
NS
Swerlick
Robert A
RA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001944:Breath Tests; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005756:Gastritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology*; D005773:Gastroscopy; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011537:Pruritus / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D014508:Urea
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D014508:Urea