Effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication on sideropenic refractory anaemia in adolescent girls with Helicobacter pylori infection

We investigated the effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication on sideropenic refractory anaemia in adolescent girls with H. pylori-associated antral gastritis without evidence of haemorrhage or clinical symptoms other than sideropenic anaemia. We conducted an open therapeutic trial in 21 adolescent girls aged 15-17 y with sideropenic refractory anaemia, which was defined as iron-deficiency anaemia refractory to oral iron therapy for 3 mo. All subjects underwent gastroduodenal endoscopy. Thirteen patients with confirmed H. pylori infection were given a 2-wk course of triple therapy and 6 wk of oral ferrous sulfate. We compared the mean levels of haemoglobin and serum ferritin among the 'initial sample' (the time when the sampling was done before treatment with oral iron), 'before eradication' (the time prior to triple therapy for eradication after subjects had been given oral iron for 3 mo) and 'after eradication' (the time when the follow-up endoscopy was performed) data in 11 subjects in whom H. pylori infection was eradicated. Haemoglobin levels (g/dl) were 8.6 ± 1.9, 8.6 ± 1.4 and 11.3 ± 2.3, respectively. Serum ferritin levels (μg/l) were 4.6 ± 2.4, 4.2 ± 2.3 and 17.5 ± 6.7, respectively. After eradication of H. pylori, mean levels of haemoglobin (p = 0.0002) and serum ferritin (p = 0.0002) showed a prominent increase between 'before eradication' and 'after eradication'. In conclusion, adolescent girls with sideropenic refractory anaemia should be evaluated for H. pylori infection. If H. pylori infection is coexistent, its eradication along with iron supplementation could correct the anaemia.