Iron deficiency anemia successfully treated by Helicobacter pylori eradication in a patient with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

A 53-year-old woman had demonstrated idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) since 1978. Although she was treated with prednisolone for ITP and oral iron compounds for IDA, neither ITP nor IDA showed any improvement. Since her (13)C-urea breath test was positive, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication therapy was performed in 2001. The therapy was effective for IDA but not for ITP. Analysis of cases such as this will be useful for clarifying the mechanisms underlying the development of ITP and IDA associated with H. pylori.