Relationship between helicobacter pylori infection and pityriasis versicolor: can helicobacter pylori infection be a new etiologic factor for pityriasis versicolor?

Abstract

Background/aim: H. pylori has been found to be related to certain dermatological diseases. However, there is no data as yet to proposean association between H. pylori and pityriasis versicolor. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the association between H. pylori andpityriasis versicolor.Materials and methods: This was a prospective study performed in the Gastroenterology and Dermatology and Venereologydepartments of the Health Sciences University, Ankara Training and Research Centre. A total of 57 consecutive patients (27 pityriasisversicolor, 30 telogen effluvium) were enrolled from the Department of Dermatology and Venereology. All patients were screened forH. pylori IgG and CagA. In addition, urea breath test was carried out to detect the existence of H. pylori infection.Results: There were significantly higher rates of H. pylori positivity, H. pylori IgG in serum in the pityriasis versicolor group comparedto the telogen effluvium group (P < 0.05). In addition, the number of patients with dyspeptic complaints was higher in the pityriasisversicolor group than in the telogen effluvium group. The odds ratio for dyspepsia, H. pylori positivity, and H. pylori IgG were 2.48,1.67, and 1.78, respectively.Conclusion: In this study, we found a statistically significant relationship between H. pylori infection and pityriasis versicolor. Therefore,H. pylori eradication could be considered in recurrent pityriasis versicolor patients with dyspepsia. New studies are required to clarifythe effect of eradication treatment on the clinical course of pityriasis versicolor.