Comparison of Platelet Counts between H. Pylori infected and non-infected individuals

Background: Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) may be associated with Helicobacter Pylori (H. Pylori) infection of stomach, in which case its eradication often, but not invariably, leads to improvement in platelets counts. There is relative dearth of studies comparing platelets counts in H. Pylori infected and non-infected individuals. Methods: We compared platelet counts in 200 H. Pylori infected and 200 non-infected individuals during upper oesophago-gastroduodenoscopy in patients presenting to GI clinic with Dyspepsia. H. Pylori infection was documented with histopathological examination of stomach biopsies. Results: H. Pylori positive and negative patients were comparable in age (35.89 +/- 10.73 and 34.93 +/- 11.31 respectively, P value: 0.3845). Twenty (10%) of infected patients had platelet count below 1.5 x 10(6)/mm(3) and 35(17.5%) had counts between 1.5 and 2 x 106/mm3 (Vs 1% and 5% respectively in non-infected group, P Value: 0.0001). Moreover, all 20 patients with thrombocytopenia were above 45 years of age and those with lowest counts were the oldest (in 6th or 7th decade). Conclusion: Patients with H. pylori infection of stomach have lower platelet counts when compared with non-infected individuals after exclusion of secondary causes of thrombocytopenia. Most of patients with lower platelets counts are in their 5th to 7th decades.