Impact of Helicobacter pylori Eradication in Children with Acute Immune Thrombocytopenia: A Randomized Controlled Study

Background: At present, some evidence supports the role of Helicobacter pylori eradication in treating childhood immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the association between H. pylori eradication and platelet count in children with acute ITP. Methods: Thirty children with a diagnosis of acute ITP and H. pylori infection were studied. This randomized and controlled study was done in Amir-Kabir Hospital, Arak, Iran. Patients were randomly allocated 1:1 to standard ITP and H. pylori treatments or standard ITP treatment. For 6 months, studied subjects had monthly follow-ups. Results: The mean +/- standard deviation (SD) age was 11 years with a majority of females (67.9 % vs. 32.1 %). The mean platelet count was 16.93 +/- 10.1 (109/L) in the ITP and H. pylori therapy group, and 15.0 +/- 3.8 (109/L) in the ITP therapy group at the baseline. After 1 week of treatment, mean platelet counts increased to 136.5 +/- 55.20 and 124.0 +/- 45.70 in the two groups, respectively (109/L). The differences between the two groups were not statistically significant at other time intervals. Children that received ITP and H. pylori therapies had a higher rate of gastrointestinal symptoms (P < 0.01). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that H. pylori eradication did not significantly affect the platelet count compared to standard ITP therapy in children with acute ITP.