Improvement of thrombocytopenia after treatment for Helicobacter pylori in a patient with immunologic thrombocytopenic purpura

Aline Maia Rocha; Luís Fábio Barbosa Botelho; David Maia Rocha

doi:10.5581/1516-8484.20140035

Improvement of thrombocytopenia after treatment for Helicobacter pylori in a patient with immunologic thrombocytopenic purpura

Rev Bras Hematol Hemoter. 2014 Mar;36(2):162-4. doi: 10.5581/1516-8484.20140035.

Authors

Aline Maia Rocha¹, Luís Fábio Barbosa Botelho¹, David Maia Rocha²

Affiliations

¹ Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil, Universidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB), João Pessoa , PB, Brazil.
² Universidade Estadual do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil, Universidade Estadual do Ceará (UECE), Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.

Abstract

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura is the most common autoimmune hematologic disease, affecting individuals of different ages. Recently, the bacterium Helicobacter pylori entered the list of causes of immune thrombocytopenic purpura. Here we present the case of a 55-year-old female patient with low platelet counts initially attributed to chronic vaginal bleeding. As corticosteroid therapy was ineffective she was treated for H. pylori infection. Within four weeks the patient had a platelet count of 87.17 ×10(9)/L accompanied by clinical improvement of the symptoms.

Keywords: Causes; Helicobacter pylori; Immune thrombocytopenic purpura; Platelet count.