Eradication of Helicobacter pylori, as add-on therapy, has a significant, but temporary influence on recovery in chronic idiopathic urticaria: a placebo-controlled, double blind trial in the Polish population

INTRODUCTION: The infectious factor like Helicobacter pylori (HP) has been thought to trigger the vicious circle of chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU), therefore its eradication could modify the course of the disease. AIM: To reveal the influence of HP eradication on CIU clinical course. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty-four CIU patients, receiving fexofenadine, as the basic treatment, took part in the research, divided into 3 groups: HP patients treated by eradication, HP patients receiving placebo, and patients without bacteria. Gastroscopy, urease test and histopathology were done to detect HP. Patients with HP were randomized and received eradication treatment or placebo. The efficacy of eradication was checked after 6 weeks by means of another gastroscopy, urease test and histopathology. In the 6(th) week and in the 4(th) and 6(th) month after eradication, the symptoms were evaluated basing on the score symptom scale. RESULTS: Helicobacter pylori did not occur more frequently in CIU patients than in the healthy population. A statistically significant clinical improvement of CIU symptoms was observed in the 6(th) week after eradication as compared to the group receiving placebo (p = 0.02) and patients who were not infected (p = 0.02). Further observation in the eradicated patients group revealed the rebound phenomenon – worsening of the clinical state (p = 0.001), which in the 4(th) month did not differ from the patients not infected or patients receiving placebo. CONCLUSIONS: Although HP occurs as frequently in CIU patients as in the healthy population, eradication, added to basic antihistaminic treatment, has a significant influence on CIU patients’ recovery parallel to the reduction of stomach inflammation features.