helicobacter pylori eradication can induce platelet recovery in chronic refractory idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura

the prevalence of helicobacter pylori infection and the effect of its eradication on platelet count in 95 iranian patients with chronic refractory autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura (critp) was investigated. 69 of 95 patients were infected with h.pylori (72.6%). h.pylori eradication was obtained in 69 infected critp pa tients who were not in remission and had platelet count below 100×109 at the time of infection assessment. 4 pa tients failed to eradicate of h.pylori. during follow-up (median 22.5 months). 3 of 33 of responsive patients re lapsed after 14 months of eradication. 30 of 65 h.pylori-eradicated patients (46%) showed a significant increase in platelet count accompanied by a significant decrease of platelet-associated immunoglobulin g (igg). in forteen patients without h.pylori infection, platelet counts did not significantly increase with the same treatment. on the other hand, eradication therapy did not affect platelet counts in 6 patients with gastric ulcer. this re sponse was maintained in all responding patients throughout the follow up period. the assessment of h.pylori infection and its eradication shoud be attempted in critp as this approach could be an effective  strategy, at least for some of these patients