relationship between helicobacter pylon infection and childhood idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura

ABSTRACT

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, a disorder characterized by autoantibody mediated platelets destruction causing decreased number of circulating platelets manifest as bleeding tendency. Since the discovery of Helicobacter pylon [H. pylon] several studies have been published concerning a hypothetical role of this bacteria in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Evaluate the pathogenic correlation between H. pylori infection and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. A cross sectional study was done on 30 cases of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura admitted to the Pediatric Hemato-Oncology unit in ALKadhimiyia Teaching Hospital and 20 cases of sex and age matched healthy children asa control io determine the relation between H. pylon infection and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. The peak age for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura was between [6-10 years] of age, [43.33%]. Male female ratio equal to 21. ELIZA test was used to measure the serum IgG antibody titer against H. pylon, 5 cases of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura was found to be positive for H.pylori [16.67%]while the test was negative in all of the control group [100%] a result which is statistically highly significant, p - value < 0. 05. Of the positive cases 3 [60%] was chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and two cases [40%] was acute idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Patients with positive test were older than those with negative test. The mean platelet count was less in the positive than those with negative test. A weak inverse correlation was found between platelet count and H. pylori serum antibody titer [r- value equal to -0.13437]. The test was sensitive in [20%] and speicific in [100%] of cases H. pylori infection may play a role in the initiation of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and eradication of H. pylori infection can cure idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura specially in chronic and resistant cases. The ELIZA test can be used as a screening test to detect H.pylori infection in children with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura