Helicobacter pylori and dermatoses - a (still) intact myth?

Helicobacter pylori plays a key role in the aetiology of peptic ulcer, gast ric cancer and gastric MALT-lymphoma. Based on a number of reports, a possi ble relationship of helicobacter pylori infection to a variety of different dermatoses has been suggested, including urticaria, rosacea, acne-rosacea, atopic dermatitis, alopecia areata, Sjogren's syndrome, Schonlein-Henoch p urpura, and Sweet syndrome. Larger case-control studies, however, do not co nfirm this relationship. Therefore, Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy cannot be generally recommended in these dermatoses.