Impact of Helicobacter pylori and Giardia lamblia infections on chronic urticaria

The etiology of chronic urticaria is largely unknown. The role of Helicobac ter pylori infection, which is the most important cause of gastritis and pe ptic ulcer, is not clear in the pathophysiology of chronic urticaria. In th is study, we aimed to define the impact of H. pylori on chronic urticaria. Thirty-eight patients who had chronic urticaria of unknown origin and dyspe psia were included in the study. In all patients, standard laboratory tests for detection of urticaria etiology were performed. Mean urticaria symptom scores of patients were carried out. All patients underwent upper gastroin testinal endoscopy. The presence of H. pylori was investigated using urease testing and histopathology. Duodenal fluid aspirated during upper endoscop y was examined for the presence of Giardia lamblia. H. pylori infection was detected in 29 patients. After successful eradication of H. pylori infecti on, the mean symptom score of patients did not change significantly (2.6 0. 6 vs., 2.4 +/- 0.8). Only one patient had a total disappearance of urticari a symptoms. Out of 38 patients, only one had G. lamblia infection. The resu lts of our study suggest that there is no association between H. pylori inf ection and chronic urticaria.