Helicobacter pylori infection is probably the cause of chronic idiopathic neutropenia (CIN)‐associated splenomegaly

Splenic volume and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection were evaluated in 67 patients with chronic idiopathic neutropenia (CIN) and 39 healthy individuals. Using ultrasound, splenomegaly was found in 61.7% of H. pylori‐infected subjects compared to only 8.7% noted in the group of H. pylori‐non‐infected individuals (P < 0.0001). Splenomegaly was also found in 47.8% of CIN patients compared to 12.8% in the group of non‐CIN subjects (P = 0.0003). However, applying the two‐way ANOVA test, a statistically significant effect on splenic volume was documented for “factor H. pylori ” (F1102 = 16.800, P < 0.0001) but not for “factor CIN” (F1102 = 3.213, P = 0.0760), suggesting that CIN‐associated splenomegaly is probably due to H. pylori infection. Am. J. Hematol. 81:142–144, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.