Question on H. Pylori and Also Nplate, Promacta,et

1) Question on H. Pylori.

My mom (68 years old) was diagnosed with ITP a month ago. She responded IVIG and her count was 120 yesterday. I asked for H. Pylori test (blood work) and it came back positive. It seems IVIG could lead to a false positive. Also positive blood test could mean one either is currently infected or has been infected in the past. I was wondering 1) what further test should be done to confirm she indeed is currently infected? 2) If she is, could she take antibiotics at the same time as Predison?


2) Questions on different treatments

Different drugs are available, people here use them, like Nplate, Promacta, Rutuxan, Winhro etc

I am wondering if there is a summary on which one one works better for certain conditions, like age, symptoms, length of ITP conditions, etc. Understand everyone responded differently. Thought to look for a base to determine which one to try first.

Thank you in advance

Sue

Hi Sue,
I also tested positive for H pylori and I had a breath test done, simple process you swallow a pill and blow into a balloon. You need to have a follow up test done though as the first round of antibiotics sometimes isn't enough.
Yes you can take antibiotics with prednisone.

I am sure others will answer the question on treatments but I think it is like all things ITP, what works for one doesn't always work for another, you just have to try different things. Maybe the prednisone will be enough and she won't need other treatments.

Good luck
Milly

I had the H Pylori blood test with the idea that if it was positive we'd treat even though it didn't mean that I definitely had the infection now, but I was negative anyway.

Guidelines for treatments are at bloodjournal.hematologylibrary.org/content/115/2/168.full

Hi Sue,

My platelets were around 30-40 during a year, I didn't respond to prednisolone after over 4 months of treatment. The treatment was changed to Azatioprine 50 mg and again after 5 months there was no change in my platelet count.
After being tested for Helicobacter Pylori with endoscope exam that came out positive, was treated for 2 weeks with antibiotics and my platelets started to go up. Right now after 3 months after treatment,I am happy to say that I'm up to 231!!!!

Hi, Patrulia, great to hear the good news! Very happy for you.

My mom had stomach problem for many years. She had an endoscope exam 2 years ago (also had one 10 years ago). They never treated her for H. pylori (I would assume they did not detect it during the endoscope exam).

Her blood work showed a level of 1.1. She had an IVIG two and half week ago. not sure if the positive was due to IVIG. I think a breath test would be the next step? She has been on Aciphex. So she stopped now and will have the breath test in two weeks.


This is the count after IVIG.
5/3. Count 30, IVIG on that day

5/7, 120
5/14, 131,
5/22, 120.

Looks like it is going down. I am getting nervous.

It probably will go down. IVIG is usually temporary.