title: The long-term efficacy of Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy in patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A beneficial effect of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication in patients with H. pylori-positive idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) has been reported by several investigators; however, it was not clear whether the recovered platelet count after H. pylori eradication was maintained for a long period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-eight ITP patients who were examined for H. pylori infection were assessed. H. pylori-positive patients received a standard antibiotic therapy for H. pylori eradication. We investigated the long-term effect of H. pylori eradication on platelet recovery in patients with H. pylori-positive ITP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 38 ITP patients, 26 (68.4%) were positive for H. pylori. The response rate of platelet recovery was 56.5% (13/23 patients). Twelve patients showed complete response (CR) and one showed partial response (PR). The mean platelet counts 6 months after eradication significantly increased from 31 x 10(9)/L to 129 x 10(9)/L in 23 H. pylori-eradicated patients (P < 0.001). The median platelet counts of responders 1, 2, 3, and 4 years after eradication were 168 x 10(9)/L (n = 10), 193 x 10(9)/L (n = 9), 168 x 10(9)/L (n = 7), and 243 x 10(9)/L (n = 4) after a mean follow-up of 25.8 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Eradication therapy for H. pylori-positive patients with ITP was effective and a favorable effect was maintained for long periods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Satake
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nishikawa
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fukagawa
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Akashi
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: Tomoharu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Atsuyoshi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hirano
authors.forename: Noboru
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maetani
authors.forename: Youzou
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Iida
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sakaida
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010976:Platelet Count; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome