Platelet count response to Helicobacter pylori eradication for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in northeastern Brazil

Abstract Background: Several studies have demonstrated that platelet counts in Helicobacter pylori-positive patients with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura improved significantly after successful eradication of the infection. However, depending of the geographical region of the study the results have been highly divergent. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of H. pylori eradication therapy on platelet count in a cohort of chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura patients from northeastern Brazil. Method: H. pylori status was determined in 28 chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura patients using the rapid urease test and histology. H. pylori-positive patients received standard triple therapy for one week. The effect of the eradication therapy was evaluated using the 13C-urea breath test two to three months after treatment. Results: The prevalence of H. pylori infection was similar to that found in the general population. Twenty-two patients (78.5%) were H. pylori-positive. Fifteen were treated, 13 (86%) of whom successfully. At six months, 4/13 (30%) displayed increased platelet counts, which remained throughout follow-up (12 months). Platelet response was not associated to mean baseline platelet count, duration of chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, gender, age, previous use of medication, or splenectomy. Conclusions: H. pylori eradication therapy showed relatively low platelet recovery rates, comparable with previous studies from southeastern Brazil. The effect of H. pylori eradication on platelet counts remained after one year of follow-up suggesting that treating H. pylori infection might be worthwhile in a subset of chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura patients.

Prevalência de anticoagulante lúpico em pacientes encaminhados ao centro de hemoterapia do estado do Ceará (HEMOCE) pelo Hospital Universitário Walter Cantídio / Prevalence of lupus anticoagulant in patients routed to the blood of Ceará (HEMOCE) by the University Hospital Walter Cantídio

O anticoagulante lúpico (AL) é um importante achado laboratorial para o diagnóstico da síndrome dos anticorpos antifosfolípedes e para melhor entendimento de suas manifestações clínicas. Este trabalho teve como objetivo verificar a prevalência de AL em pacientes encaminhados ao Hemocentro do Ceará (HEMOCE) pelo Hospital Universitário Walter Cabtídio, bem como buscar uma correlação com o quadro clínico pré-existente. Os dados foram obtidos nas fichas laboratoriais. Foram analisadas 197 amostras. A metodologia utilizada foi a pesquisa de AL através do teste do veneno de Víbora Russel (TDVVR), tempo de protrombina (TAP) e Tempo parcial de tromboplastina ativado (TTPa), usando equipamento automatizado (Behring Coagulation Timer, Dade Behring)com metodologia coagulométrica...O estudo identificou a prevalência de AL na população atendida e mostrou a relação entre os achados laboratoriais com os sinais e sintomas dos pacientes.