Background: A higher prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in rosacea
patients than in healthy controls has been reported.
Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of H pylori
eradication therapy in patients with rosacea.
Methods: Twenty-five rosacea patients and 87 age- and sex-matched healthy c
ontrols were included in this study. We detected IgG and IgA antibodies aga
inst H pylori in both groups. An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and a rap
id urease test were performed on the 13 patients with rosacea who accepted
this procedure. Amoxicillin 500 mg 3 times daily, metronidazole 500 mg 3 ti
mes daily, and bismuth subcitrate 300 mg 4 times daily were administered to
patients positive for H pylori. The severity of rosacea was scored before
and after treatment.
Results: There was no statistical difference in seropositivity in either gr
oup. In H pylori-positive rosacea patients there was a significant decrease
in the severity of rosacea at the end of the treatment as compared with th
e initial scores.
Conclusion: Our findings suggest that H pylori may be involved in rosacea a
nd that eradication treatment may be beneficial.