Chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) is one of the most frequent skin diseases with an incidence ranging from 1.2% to 23% , however its causes remains unknown in the vast majority of cases. A possible relationship between chronic urticaria and Helicobacter pylori (H.p.) has been recently suggested.
The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori(H.P.) infection in patients with C.I.U. and to investigates the effectiveness of eradication therapy of (H.p.) infection on this skin disease.
100 patients (40 males and 60 females) with C.I.U as well as 45 apparently healthy (age, sex, matched controls) were enrolled in this study underwent serological testing for H.pylori infection with the 13C –urea test as well as by specific IgG antibodies against the H. pylori (ELISA technique). Positive patients were treated with, Omeprazole – Clarithromycin + Amoxicillin for 10 days. Eradication and clinical course were followed up two months after the treatment in comparison to the negative cases as a control group. The clinical evaluation and follow up were demonstrated as worse,. same, less and disappearance of flares.
In our results there was significant difference in the sero prevalence of H.pylori infection between idiopathic chronic urticaria patients and healthy subjects. H.pylori was detected in 75% of patients and 20% of controls. Out of 75 patients treated , only 24 showed complete remission of their urticaria after successfully eradicating H.pylori infection ,the others only having some improvement in their symptoms.
The mean lgG titer was 86.8 + 42.4 among patients group, where it was 16.+ 42.8 among the control group (p< 0.05) .
After treating the positive patients with appropriate antibiotics for 10 days there are a significant decrease of H.P. specific lgG as compared to the negative cases and also bacterium eradication is associated with a remission of urticarial symptoms. as compared to the negative cases. In conclusion, Helicobacter pylori affects a high percentage of patients with idiopathic chronic urticaria and bacterium eradication was associated with a remission of urticarial symptoms suggesting a possible role of H. pylori in the pathogeneses of this skin disorder.