title: Helicobacter pylori eradication in patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effect of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication on platelet counts in patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (cITP).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 36 cITP patients were included in the study. The diagnosis of H. pylori was done by rapid urease test and Giemsa staining of the gastric biopsy specimen. All H. pylori positive patients received standard triple therapy for 14 d and were subjected for repeat endoscopy at 6 wk. Patients who continued to be positive for H. pylori on second endoscopy received second line salvage therapy. All the patients were assessed for platelet response at 6 wk, 3(rd) and 6(th) months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 36 patients, 17 were positive for H. pylori infection and eradication was achieved in 16 patients. The mean baseline platelet count in the eradicated patients was 88615.38 ± 30117.93/mm(3) and platelet count after eradication at 6 wk, 3 mo and 6 mo was 143230.77 ± 52437.51/mm(3) (P = 0.003), 152562.50 ± 52892.3/mm(3) (P = 0.0001), 150187.50 ± 41796.68/mm(3) (P = 0.0001) respectively and in the negative patients, the mean baseline count was 71000.00 ± 33216.46/mm(3) and at 6 wk, 3(rd) and 6(th) month follow up was 137631.58 ± 74364.13/mm(3) (P = 0.001), 125578.95 ± 71472.1/mm(3) (P = 0.005), 77210.53 ± 56892.28/mm(3) (P = 0.684) respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Eradication of H. pylori leads to increase in platelet counts in patients with cITP and can be recommended as a complementary treatment with conventional therapy.
authors.affiliation: Ravinder Naik Noonavath, Department of Surgery, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Pondicherry 605006, India.
authors.forename: Ravinder Naik
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Noonavath
authors.affiliation: Ravinder Naik Noonavath, Department of Surgery, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Pondicherry 605006, India.
authors.forename: Chandrasekharan Padma
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Lakshmi
authors.affiliation: Ravinder Naik Noonavath, Department of Surgery, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Pondicherry 605006, India.
authors.forename: Tarun Kumar
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Dutta
authors.affiliation: Ravinder Naik Noonavath, Department of Surgery, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Pondicherry 605006, India.
authors.forename: Vikram
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kate
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001706:Biopsy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005773:Gastroscopy; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D010976:Platelet Count; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors
keywords: Helicobacter pylori; Immune thrombocytopenic purpura; Platelet counts