Helicobacter pylori infection detected by 14C-urea breath test is associated with iron deficiency anemia in pregnant women.

ABSTRACT

AIMS: To determine whether there is a relationship between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, iron deficiency anemia and thrombocytopenia in pregnant women. METHODS: Hemoglobin and ferritin levels and platelet counts of pregnant women were measured during the third trimester. H. pylori infection was determined using a 14C-urea breath test (14C-UBT) after delivery. Statistical analyses were determined with a Mann-Whitney U-test and the chi(2) test. Statistical significance was determined with a P-value less than .05. RESULTS: Seventy-two of 117 women had positive results on the 14C-UBT. Overall, 27 of 117 pregnant women had anemia (23.1%), and all them were in the H. pylori-positive group; 18 of 27 (66.7%) had iron deficiency anemia. Median hemoglobin levels and neonatal body weights were 12.0 g/dL vs 12.0 g/dL and 3320.0 grams vs 3520.0 grams in the H. pylori-positive and negative groups, respectively. Serum hemoglobin and ferritin levels and neonatal body weight were found to be lower in the anemic group compared with the non-anemic group among H. pylori-infected women (P = 0.0001, P = 0.02, P = 0.008, respectively). There were no statistically significant differences with regard to gestational thrombocytopenia between the H. pylori-positive and H. pylori-negative groups (P = 0.532). CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that there is a strong relationship between H. pylori infection and iron deficiency anemia in women with uncomplicated pregnancy. However, an association between H. pylori infection and thrombocytopenia was not found.