Effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication in the treatment of Japanese patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria.

BACKGROUND: Infection with Helicobacter pylori has been associated with chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU). The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of H. pylori eradication in the treatment of patients with CIU. METHODS: Fifty patients with CIU (16 men and 34 women; age 25-75 years) and 100 sex- and age-matched control subjects were enrolled in the study. Presence of IgG antibody to H. pylori was examined by serology. H. pylori-seropositive patients with CIU received endoscopy to confirm H. pylori infection. Patients infected with H. pylori received eradication therapy comprising lansoprazole, amoxicillin, and either clarithromycin or metronidazole. At least 2 months after finishing the eradication therapy, a (13)C-urea breath test was performed, and the effect of eradication therapy on the CIU was scored, using a three-point scale, as complete remission, partial remission, or no improvement. RESULTS: In the 50 patients with CIU, 26 (52%) were H. pylori-seropositive, while 48% (48/100) of the control subjects were seropositive (statistically not significant). Nineteen out of the 26 patients with CIU infected with H. pylori received eradication therapy, and eradication was successful in 17 patients. In the 17 H. pylori-eradicated patients, 6 (35%) had complete remission and 11 (65%) had complete remission or partial remission. On the other hand, in the 9 patients without H. pylori eradication, only 2 (22%) showed partial remission and 7 (78%) had no improvement. CONCLUSIONS: Eradication of H. pylori would be a valid choice for patients with CIU, although the prevalence of H. pylori infection is not higher in patients with CIU than it is in controls.