High eradication rates of Helicobacter pylori with a new sequential treatment
A Zullo, D Vaira, N Vakil, C Hassan, L Gatta, C Ricci, V De Francesco, M Menegatti, A Tampieri, F Perna, V Rinaldi, F Perri, C Papadìa, F Fornari, S Pilati, L S Mete, A Merla, R Potì, G Marinone, A Savioli, S M A Campo, D Faleo, E Ierardi, M Miglioli, S Morini, A Zullo, D Vaira, N Vakil, C Hassan, L Gatta, C Ricci, V De Francesco, M Menegatti, A Tampieri, F Perna, V Rinaldi, F Perri, C Papadìa, F Fornari, S Pilati, L S Mete, A Merla, R Potì, G Marinone, A Savioli, S M A Campo, D Faleo, E Ierardi, M Miglioli, S Morini
Abstract
Background: Eradication rates of Helicobacter pylori with standard triple therapy are disappointing, and studies from several countries confirm this poor performance.
Aim: To assess the eradication rate of a new sequential treatment regimen compared with conventional triple therapy for the eradication of H. pylori infection.
Methods: One thousand and forty-nine dyspeptic patients were studied prospectively. H. pylori-infected patients were randomized to receive 10-day sequential therapy [rabeprazole (40 mg daily) plus amoxicillin (1 g twice daily) for the first 5 days, followed by rabeprazole (20 mg), clarithromycin (500 mg) and tinidazole (500 mg) twice daily for the remaining 5 days] or standard 7-day therapy [corrected] [rabeprazole (20 mg), clarithromycin (500 mg) and amoxicillin (1 g) twice daily]. H. pylori status was assessed by histology, rapid urease test and 13C-urea breath test at baseline and 6 weeks or more after completion of treatment.
Results: Higher eradication rates were found with the sequential regimen compared to the standard regimen (intention-to-treat: 92% vs. 74%, P < 0.0001; per protocol: 95% vs. 77%, P < 0.0001). Higher eradication rates were also seen in patients with peptic ulcer disease and non-ulcer dyspepsia. In both treatments, compliance was similar (> 90%), as was the rate of side-effects, which were mild.
Conclusions: This 10-day sequential treatment regimen achieves high eradication rates in peptic ulcer disease and non-ulcer dyspepsia.
Source: PubMed