Association of Helicobacter pylori infection with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

OBJECTIVE To determine the association of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients presenting with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). METHODS From March 2007 to March 2008, thirty adult patients with ITP and 30 age and sex matched healthy controls were investigated for the presence of H. pylori infection by Helicobacter pylori stool antigen (HpSA) an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) based method. The criteria for presence of H. pylori infection was a positive stool antigen test. RESULTS H. pylori infection was found in 19 out of 30 patients with ITP (63.3%) which is well above the frequency of 13 out of 30 (43.3%) in controls. Calculated odds ratio was 2.25 which shows significant association of H. pylori infection with ITP. CONCLUSION The study confirms the existence of an association between H. pylori infection and ITP. Therefore the screening for H. pylori infection and an attempt to eradicate bacterium in positive cases seems appropriate in patients with ITP at diagnosis.