Helicobacter pylori, anemia, iron deficiency and thrombocytopenia among pregnant women at Khartoum, Sudan

Background: Helicobacter pylori is a common gut pathogen that is linked to many complications of pregnancy such as iron deficiency anemia, pre-eclampsia and thrombocytopenia. There are no published data on H. pylori in Sudan. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted during the period May-June 2012 at the antenatal care unit of Khartoum Hospital, Sudan, to investigate prevalence of H. pylori and its association, if any, with anemia and thrombocytopenia. Obstetric and medical histories were gathered using questionnaires. Hemoglobin and serum ferritin were measured and H. pylori antibodies (IgA and IgG) investigated using ELISA. Results: Among 179 women, rates of positivity for specific IgG formed against H. pylori were 69.8% (125/179), 94.0% (168/179) and 5.6% (10/179) for IgA, IgG and both IgG and IgA, respectively. There was no association between the expected risk factors (age, parity, education) and H. pylori seropositivity. Of these women, 42/179 (24.3%), 50/179 (28.9%) and 19/179 (11%), respectively, were anemic (hemoglobin < 11 g/dl) or had iron deficiency (serum ferritin < 15 mu g/l) or iron deficiency anemia. There was no association between H. pylori infection and anemia (OR=1.0, 95% CI=0.3-3.2, p=1.0), iron deficiency (OR=0.6, 95% CI=0.1-3.8, p=0.367) or thrombocytopenia (OR=2.0, 95% CI=0.4-8.4, p=0.322). Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of H. pylori infection among pregnant women in Khartoum, Sudan, and it is not associated with anemia or thrombocytopenia.