Eradication of H pylori infection in a rural population： One-day quadruple therapy versus 7-day triple therapy

AIM: To compare the one-day quadruple therapy with a standard 7-d triple therapy for H pylori eradication in a rural population of China. METHODS: A total of 396 patients with 13C-urea breath test positive for H pylori were assigned into two groups: 239 patients received one-day quadruple therapy (amox icillin 2000 mg qid; metronidazole 500 mg qid; bismuth citrate 900 mg qid and lansoprazole 60 mg once daily) and 157 patients received 7-d standard triple therapy (amoxicillin 1000 mg bid; clarithromycin 500 mg bid and lansoprazole 30 mg bid). All the patients underwent a 13C-UBT to assess the eradication of H pylori infection six weeks after treatment. RESULTS: Two hundred and twenty-nine patients completed the one-day therapy (95.8%) and 148 patients completed the 7-d therapy (94.2%). The one day therapy eradicated H pylori infection in 64 patients (27.95%). In contrast, 103 patients (69.59%) were H pylori negative after the 7-d therapy (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: This pilot study suggests there is no beneficial effect of the one-day therapy in treatment of H pylori infection compared with the 7-d standard therapy.     

治疗的依从性、年龄、性别对胃溃疡患者使用三联7天疗法根除幽门螺杆菌治疗的影响

目的研究胃溃疡患者使用三联7天疗法治疗幽门螺杆菌（Helicobacter pylori,H.pylori）感染的根除率,评估患者依从性、年龄、性别对于此类人群根除H.pylori治疗的影响。方法将经胃镜检查确诊为新发胃溃疡,并经活组织病理学检查明确有H.py-lori感染的1 075例患者纳入研究范围,所有入选患者均接受三联（洛赛克或耐信20 mg/次、2次/天,联合克拉霉素500 mg/次、2次/天,与阿莫西林1 000 mg/次、2次/天）7天疗法行根除H.pylori治疗,之后予以耐信或洛赛克20 mg/次、1次/天、治疗49天。所有入选患者系统治疗完成后6-8周复查胃镜。结果40-59岁与60岁以上人群的胃溃疡患者对治疗的依从性差异无显著性,而40岁以下人群对治疗的依从性较差（P〈0.05）。〈40岁、40-59岁和≥60岁胃溃疡患者的H.pylori根除率分别为61.0%、72.7%和81.9%。〈40岁与40-59岁和≥60岁患者的H.pylori根除率差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。不同性别胃溃疡患者的H.pylori根除率差异无显著性（P〉0.05）。结论使用三联7天疗法治疗胃溃疡患者的H.pylori感染,H.pylori的根除率较低,患者对治疗的依从性、年龄是影响胃溃疡患者H.pylori根除率的重要因素,而性别对此无影响。     

A short-term eradication therapy for Helicobacter pylori acute gastritis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Acute gastritis, caused by an initial infection of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), may resolve spontaneously, but the infection sometimes becomes chronic. We examined the efficacy of a short-term H. pylori eradication therapy on acute gastritis. METHODS: Among the 15 patients with hemorrhagic acute gastritis who were randomly allocated to group A (eradication therapy) or group B (Lansoprazole, LPZ), 10 of them started to receive treatment within 1 day after the disease onset. The other five patients began the eradication therapy 4-6 days after disease onset (group C). Eradication therapy consisted of a daily oral administration of each of 30 mg lansoprazole (LPZ), once a day; 400 mg clarithromycin, twice a day; 1000 mg amoxicillin, twice a day; and 300 mg rebamipide, three times a day, for one week. If the endoscopy was normal, medication was stopped for the following 4 weeks before gastric endoscopy was performed again in order to assess H. pylori eradication. RESULTS: All group A patients were cured after the 1-week treatment and therefore, they became H. pylori negative. Group B and C patients had erosions or ulcers after the 1-week treatment and so received an additional 3-week administration of LPZ. Four weeks later, their gastritis was cured and except for one group B patient, they became H. pylori-negative. CONCLUSION: In patients with acute gastritis, caused by an initial H. pylori infection, eradication therapy was efficacious in achieving early healing. This therapy should be started as soon as possible after disease onset.     

Levofloxacin-azithromycin combined triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication]

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Antibiotic resistance and poor compliance are the main causes of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication failure. This study evaluated the eradication rate, tolerability, and compliance of levofloxacin- azithromycin combined triple therapy for H. pylori eradication. METHODS: 1) First-line eradication: A total of 78 H. pylori-positive patients were enrolled. Seventeen military men in Armed Forces Capital Hospital were treated with 7 days of levofloxacin-azithromycin combined triple therapy (omeprazole 20 mg bid, levofloxacin 500 mg od, and azithromycin 500 mg od), and 61 patients in Kangbuk Samsung Hospital were treated with standard PPI-based triple therapy (omeprazole 20 mg bid, amoxicillin 1.0 g bid, and clarithromycin 500 mg bid) for 7 days. 2) Second-line eradication: A consecutive series of 59 patients who failed H. pylori eradication with standard PPI-based triple therapy in Kangbuk Samsung Hospital were randomized to two groups. Thirty patients were retreated with 7 days of bismuth-based quadruple therapy (omeprazole 20 mg bid, bismuth 120 mg qid, metronidazole 500 mg tid, and tetracycline 500 mg qid), and remaining 29 patients were retreated with levofloxacin-azithromycin combined triple therapy. Patient's compliance and tolerability were evaluated at the end of treatment. The status of H. pylori infection was assessed 8 weeks later then. The successful eradication of H. pylori was defined as negative results from histology and CLO test, or 13C-urea breath test. RESULTS: First-line eradication rate of levofloxacin-azithromycin triple therapy was lower than that of standard PPI-based triple therapy, but there was no statistically significant difference (70.6% vs. 80.3%, p=0.390). Second-line eradication rate of levofloxacin-azithromycin combined triple therapy was significantly lower than that of bismuth-based quadruple therapy (ITT/PP 65.5%/73.1% vs. 90%/90%, p<0.0001). The compliances of all patients were more than 85%. Two of patients with levofloxacin-azithromycin combined triple therapy complained self-limiting side effects (mild dizziness; mild insomnia with general weakness). CONCLUSIONS: Levofloxacin-azithromycin combined triple therapy should not be recommended as the first-line or second-line H. pylori eradication regimen in Korea.     

Recrudescence of Helicobacter pylori Infection in Patients with Healed Duodenal Ulcer after Treatment with Different Regimens

Objective: To determine the 12-month posttherapy recurrence (recrudescence) of Helicobacter pylori in patients with healed duodenal ulcer after apparent eradication of the organism with anti- H. pylori treatment. The influence of original anti- H. pylori treatment regimens on the recrudescence was also evaluated. Methods: One hundred and ninety patients who had duodenal ulcer healed and H. pylori eradicated (as assessed by four routine techniques 4 wk after the end of anti- H. pylori therapy) with one of five regimens were studied. The five regimens were: 1) colloidal bismuth suhcitrate (CBS) 120 mg; 2) CBS plus amoxicillin (500 nig); 3) CBS plus mctronidazole (400 mg); 4) CBS plus metronidazole and amoxicillin; and 5) CBS plus metronidazole and tetracycline (500 mg). CBS was taken four times daily for 4 wk, and antihiotics were taken three times daily for the first week. The patients were re-endoscoped. and the status of H. pylori , duodenal ulcer, and gastritis was assessed after a period of follow-up (mean 14 months after commencement of treatment). Results: H. pylori infection recurred in 36 (18.9%) of these patients. Recrudescence rate with monotherapy was 47.1%, with dual therapy 29.2–35% and with tripie therapy 9.2–14.3%. Nineteen (52.7%) of the 36 patients with recrudescent infection had ulcer relapse, and the rate for H, pylori -negative patients was 3.2% (5/154). Conclusion: Recrudeseence of H. pylori infection after apparent eradication can occur, but it could be that the treatment was only suppressing the organism. The definition of eradication of H. pylori infection may need to he revised, and more sensitive techniques to assess eradication of H. pylori are required.     

Comparison of the effectiveness of quadruple salvage regimen for Helicobacter pylori infection according to the duration of treatment]

BACKGROUND/AIMS: At present, triple therapy schemes are recommended by national and international consensus conferences for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. However, even with the most effective current treatment regimens, about 10-20% of patients fail to eradicate H. pylori, necessitating alternative strategy to eradicate H. pylori in primary treatment failure. Therefore, we performed this study to evaluate the efficacy of quadruple therapy and to compare 1 and 2-week quadruple regimen as a second-line therapy. METHODS: The hospital records of 155 patients who failed to the standard triple therapy (proton pump inhibitor, amoxicillin, clarithromycin) were reviewed retrospectively, and divided the 1 or 2 weeks OBMT regimen (omeprazole 20 mg bid, bismuth salt 120 mg qid, metronidazole 500 mg tid, tetracycline 500 mg qid). Presence of H. pylori infection and side-effects of the treatment regimen were assessed 4 weeks after the cessation of treatment. RESULTS: One hundred and eight male and 47 female (mean age, 52.2+/-15.4) patients were enrolled. The overall eradication rate of H. pylori with quadruple therapy was 83.9% and the eradication rate was similar between 1 and 2 weeks of OBMT regimen (76.8% in OBMT 1 week, 87.9% in OBMT 2 weeks, respectively p=0.110). CONCLUSIONS: Quadruple therapy is an effective salvage regimen for H. pylori eradication after the failure of standard triple therapy. One week quadruple therapy is not significantly different from 2-weeks regimen as the second-line option for H. pylori eradication.     

Effects of Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy on hyperammonaemia in patients with liver cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Helicobacter pylori has strong urease activity. Ammonia produced by H pylori in the stomach can be a source of systemic ammonia in patients with hepatic dysfunction. The effect of the eradication of H pylori on hyperammonaemia was examined in patients with liver cirrhosis. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Ammonia concentrations in blood and gastric juice were analysed in 50 patients with liver cirrhosis and hyperammonaemia. All patients were first treated with a low protein diet, kanamycin, lactulose, and branched chain enriched amino acid solution. Hyperammonaemia remained in 18 patients. These 18 patients were divided into three groups according to the status of H pylori infection; those with a diffuse distribution of H pylori in the stomach (group I), those with a regional distribution (group II), and those without H pylori (group III). These patients were given 30 mg iansoprazole, 1000 mg amoxicillin, and 400 mg clarithromycin or 500 mg metronidazole for two weeks to eradicate H pylori. RESULTS: In group I ammonia concentrations in blood and gastric juice were significantly reduced after H pylori eradication. The blood ammonia concentration at 12 weeks after the eradication was still significantly lower than that before eradication. In groups II and III the ammonia concentrations in blood and gastric juice were not significantly reduced after eradication therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The diffuse distribution of H-pylori in the stomach contributes partly to hyperammonaemia in patients with liver cirrhosis, and the eradication of H pylori is effective in patients with hyperammonaemia with diffuse H pylori infection in the stomach.     

序贯疗法与标准四联疗法对幽门螺杆菌根除失败后补救治疗的疗效分析

近年经典三联疗法的幽门螺杆菌（11．pylori）根除疗效明显降低,选择有效补救疗法对Hpylori根除失败者有重要意义。目的：比较序贯疗法与标准四联疗法对且pylori根除失败者的疗效。方法：将98例Hpylori根除失败者随机分为序贯疗法组（前5d予奥美拉唑20mg＋阿莫西林1000mgbid,后5d予奥美拉唑20mg＋左氧氟沙星200mg＋克拉霉素500mgbid）和标准四联疗法组（予奥美拉唑20mg＋胶体次枸橼酸铋钾220mg＋阿莫西林1000mg＋克拉霉素500mgbid,疗程7d）。停药4周后复查”C一尿素呼气试验,评估Hpylori根除疗效。结果：共95例患者完成方案,序贯疗法组11Tr和PP分析的Hpylori根除率均显著高于标准四联疗法组（ITF：89．8％对71,4％,PP：91．7％对74。5％,P〈0．05）,序贯疗法组临床症状改善的总有效率亦显著高于标准四联疗法组（95．8％对80．9％,P〈0．05）,两组不良反应发生率无明显差异（P〉0．05）。结论：对Hpylori根除治疗失败的患者,序贯疗法和标准四联疗法均可作为有效的补救治疗方案,但10d序贯疗法的疗效优于7d标准四联疗法。     

Evaluation of Helicobacter pylori stool antigen test before and after eradication therapy

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The Helicobacter pylori stool antigen (HpSA) test is useful for initial diagnosis of H. pylori infection, but there is disagreement regarding its diagnostic accuracy after eradication therapy. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the HpSA test before and after eradication therapy. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-six patients underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with biopsies for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection using culture, histology and the rapid urease test. Fifty-four H. pylori-positive patients were treated with 1-week triple therapy. Six to 10 weeks after the end of therapy, the patients underwent re-endoscopy and received the same biopsy-based methods. In addition, the 13C-urea breath test was performed. The HpSA test was performed before and 6-10 weeks after the end of therapy. In 23 patients, the HpSA test was also performed at the end of therapy. RESULTS: Before therapy, the sensitivity and specificity of the HpSA test was 98.3% (95% confidence interval (CI): 95.9-100%) and 95.0% (95% CI: 75.1-99.9%), respectively. At the end of therapy, the HpSA tests were all negative both for eradication and non-eradication patients. The sensitivity and specificity of the HpSA test after eradication therapy were 90% (95% CI: 55.5-99.7%) and 97.7% (95% CI: 93.3-100%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The HpSA test is a useful method for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection before and after eradication therapy.     

Efficacy of omeprazole and amoxicillin with either clarithromycin or metronidazole on eradication of Helicobacter pylori in Chinese peptic ulcer patients

AIM: One-week triple therapy with proton pump inhibitors, clarithromycin and amoxicillin has recently been proposed as the first-line treatment for Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection; however, data regarding the effects of this regimen in China are scarce. The aim of this prospective and randomized study was to compare the efficacy of clarithromycin and metronidazole when they were combined with omeprazole and amoxicillin on eradication of H pylori and ulcer healing in Chinese peptic ulcer patients. METHODS: A total of 103 subjects with Hpylori-positive peptic ulcer were randomly divided into two groups, and accepted triple therapy with omeprazole 20 mg, amoxicillin 1 000 mg and either clarithromycin 500 mg (OAC group, n = 58) or metronidazole 400 mg (0AM group, n - 45). All drugs were given twice daily for 7 d. Patients with active peptic ulcer were treated with omeprazole 20 mg daily for 2-4 wk after anti-H pylori therapy. Six to eight weeks after omeprazole therapy, all patients underwent endoscopies and four biopsies (two from the antrum and two others from the corpus of stomach) were taken for rapid urease test and histological analysis (with modified Giemsa staining) to examine H pylori. Successful eradication was defined as negative results from both examination methods. RESULTS: One hundred patients completed the entire course of therapy and returned for follow-up. The eradication rate of H pylori for the per-protocol analysis was 89.3% (50/56) in OAC group and 84.1% (37/44) in 0AM group. Based on the intention-to-treat analysis, the eradication rate of H pylori was 86.2% (50/58) in OAC group and 82.2% (37/45) in 0AM group. There were no significant differences in eradication rates between the two groups on either analysis. The active ulcer-healing rate was 96.7% (29/30) in OAC group and 100% (21/21) in 0AM group (per-protocol analysis, P>0.05). Six patients in OAC group (10.3%) and five in OAM group (11.1%) reported adverse events (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: One-week triple therapy with omeprazole and amoxicillin in combination with either clarithromycin or metronidazole is effective for the eradication of H pylori. The therapeutic regimen comprising metronidazole with low cost, good compliance and mild adverse events may offer a good choice for the treatment of peptic ulcers associated with H pylori infection in China.     

Helicobacter pylori eradication: a randomized prospective study of triple therapy versus triple therapy plus lactoferrin and probiotics

OBJECTIVES: Helicobacter pylori is causally associated with gastritis and peptic ulcer diseases. Recent data (meta-analysis) have demonstrated that triple therapy with amoxicillin, clarithromycin, and a proton pump inhibitor has an eradication rate of only 74-76% and new therapeutic protocols may be necessary. The aim of this study was to examine whether adding bovine lactoferrin (bLf) and probiotics (Pbs) to the standard triple therapy for H. pylori infection could improve the eradication rate and reduce side effects. METHODS: H. pylori infection was diagnosed in 206 patients: in 107 based on an upper endoscopy exam and a rapid urease test, and in 99 by means of the H. pylori stool antigen-test and the C(13) urea breath test (C(13) UBT). The patients were randomized into two groups: 101 patients (group A) underwent standard triple eradication therapy (esomeprazole, clarithromycin, amoxicillin), while 105 patients (group B) underwent a modified eradication therapy (standard triple eradication therapy plus bLf and Pb). Successful eradication therapy was defined as a negative C(13) UBT 8 wk after completion of the treatment. Results were evaluated by intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analysis. Data were evaluated and considered positive when P<0.05. RESULTS: At the end of the study 175/206 patients showed negative C(13) UBT results. According to intention-to-treat analysis, the infection was eradicated in 73/101 patients from Group A and in 93/105 from Group B. PP analysis showed 73/96 patients from Group A and 93/101 from Group B to have been successfully treated. More patients from group A than from group B reported side effects from their treatment (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study suggest that the addition of bLf and Pbs could improve the standard eradication therapy for H. pylori infection--bLf serving to increase the eradication rate and Pbs to reduce the side effects of antibiotic therapy.     

How to eradicate Helicobacter pylori using amoxicillin and omeprazole in the remnant stomach

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We previously investigated the effects of amoxicillin/omeprazole combined therapy on patients who were Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) positive after gastrectomy for the treatment of gastric cancer, and we determined the difference in amoxicillin dosage between the therapeutic successes and failures. In the present study, assuming that amoxicillin dosage should be determined on the basis of body weight of each patient, we examined whether the eradication of H. pylori would be improved by using this novel dose-selection method. METHODOLOGY: We have previously reported about eradication of H. pylori of remnant stomach as follows. Patients who underwent gastrectomy for the treatment of gastric cancer were enrolled if H. pylori was detected in their remnant stomach after the operation. Of these patients, 22 were treated with amoxicillin at 750 mg/day for 2 weeks and omeprazole at 20 mg/day for 8 weeks. For the evaluation of H. pylori eradication, endoscopic examination and 13C-urea breath test were performed 12 weeks after the initiation of the treatment. The amoxicillin dosage in the therapeutic successes was compared with that in the therapeutic failures, and we found that the dosage was 14.1 +/- 1.5 and 12.5 +/- 1.5 mg/kg/day in the successes and the failures, respectively. Following these results, another 10 H. pylori-positive patients were treated with amoxicillin greater than 16 mg/kg/day for 2 weeks and omeprazole at 20 mg/day for 8 weeks, and H. pylori eradication was evaluated as mentioned above. The efficacy of the drug therapy on H. pylori infection was compared between the two groups that one group (Group A) is treated with amoxicillin 750 mg/day for 2 weeks and omeprazole at 20 mg/day for 8 weeks and the other group (Group B) is treated with 1250 mg/day for 2 weeks and omeprazole at 20 mg/day for 8 weeks. RESULTS: The eradication rate of H. pylori in Group B (84.6%) was higher than that in Group A (42.1%). There was significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.028). CONCLUSIONS: We assumed that the optimal dosage of amoxicillin was over 15.6 mg/kg/day for omeprazole-amoxicillin combined therapy for gastrectomized patients who were H. pylori positive, and the favorable therapeutic effects could be obtained by applying this amoxicillin dosage to the eradication of H. pylori.     

幽门螺杆菌根除治疗失败后的补救治疗

幽门螺杆菌（H.pylori)对抗生素的耐药率上升是导致根除治疗失败率上升的主要原因，对经标准方案根除H.pylori失败的患者有必要进行补救治疗。目的：评估铋剂、质子泵抑制剂（PPI）联用呋喃唑酮和四环素组成的7天四联方案用于根除H.pylori治疗失败后补救治疗的疗效，以及H.pylori耐药对疗效的影响。方法：予35例经含克拉霉素根除H.pylori方案治疗、H.pylori仍为阳性的患者以为期7天的四联治疗：枸橼酸铋钾220mg bid 奥美拉唑20mg bid 呋喃唑酮100mg bid 四环素750mg bid。治疗前取胃窦黏膜活检标本进行快速尿素酶试验、组织学检查和培养检测H.pylori。用琼脂扩散法测定克拉霉素、呋喃唑酮和四环素的最低抑菌浓度（MIC）。治疗结束后至少4周，采用^13C-尿素呼气试验进行H.pylori感染状态评估。结果：33例患者完成治疗和随访，2例失访。根据意图治疗（ITT）和试验方案（PP）分析，该补救方案的H.pylori根除率分别为68．6％（24／35）和72．7％（24／33）。10例（28．6％）患者发生轻度副反应（9例发生恶心、中上腹不适，1例发生皮疹）。35例中有27例H.pylori培养成功，克拉霉素的耐药率为51．8％（14／27），呋喃唑酮为3．7％（1／27），四环素为7．4％（2／27）。各药物耐药菌株和敏感菌株的H.pylori根除率无显著差异。结论：铋剂、PPI联用呋喃唑酮和四环素组成的7天联方案作为根除H.pylori治疗失败后的补救治疗可获得较高的H.pylori根除率。     

One-week once-daily triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori--a pilot study

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Proton-pump inhibitor-based triple therapy given over one to two weeks is currently one of the recommended regimens for eradication of Helicobacter pylori. Most of these regimens require twice daily intake of medication. The present study explored the possibility of using a one-week once-daily triple therapy in the eradication of H. pylori. METHODOLOGY: Thirty-two consecutive patients with acid-peptic disease associated with H. pylori infection (duodenal ulcer 18 patients; gastric ulcer 8 patients; duodenitis 1 patient; gastritis 5 patients) were prospectively recruited. They were given a 1-week course of lansoprazole 30 mg, clarithromycin modified-release 500 mg, and metronidazole 800 mg, all taken once daily. RESULTS: The age of these 32 patients ranged from 17-89 years with a mean of 57.5 years. Side effects occurred in 5 patients (15.6%; 95% CI: 5.3-32.8%). All patients finished the treatment and underwent a second endoscopy. Positive endoscopic finding was found in one patient (3.1%; 95% CI: 0.07-16.2%). On intent-to-treat and per protocol analysis, the eradication rate was 87.5% (95% CI: 71.0-96.5%). CONCLUSIONS: A one-week once-daily course of lansoprazole, clarithromycin modified release and metronidazole is a safe, well-tolerated, easy to comply with, and efficacious treatment for H. pylori infection. In view of the small sample size, further studies should be performed to validate its effectiveness.     

Acid suppression therapy is not required after one-week anti-Helicobacter pylori triple therapy for duodenal ulcer healing

AIM: To compare healing of Helicobacter pylori-related non complicated duodenal ulcer after one-week eradication triple therapy alone and after triple therapy with further 3-weeks antisecretory treatment with ranitidine. METHODS: Three hundred and forty three patients with symptomatic H. pylori positive duodenal ulcer were included in this randomized double-blind placebo controlled study. H. pylori infection was established by rapid urease test and histopathology of antral biopsies. All patients were treated for one week with ranitidine 300 mg b.i.d., amoxicillin 1 g b.i.d., clarithromycin 500 mg b.i.d., and then randomly treated for the following 3 weeks either with ranitidine 300 mg once daily (triple therapy + ranitidine, n =180) or placebo (triple therapy alone, n =163). Ulcer healing was assessed by endoscopy 4 weeks after inclusion. H. pylori eradication was established by (13) C-urea breath testing 5 weeks after the end of triple therapy. RESULTS: In intention to treat, duodenal ulcer healed at 4 weeks in 86 % of patients treated with triple therapy + ranitidine and in 83 % of patients treated with triple therapy alone (equivalence: 90 % CI [-3. 8 %; 9.2 %]). The H. pylori eradication rates were 67 % and 69 % respectively. Ulcer healed in 88 % of patients in whom H. pylori eradication was achieved and in 77 % of patients in whom eradication failed. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that one-week triple therapy alone is highly effective in healing non complicated H. pylori associated duodenal ulcer without additional antisecretory treatment.     

One-week once-daily triple therapy with esomeprazole, levofloxacin and azithromycin compared to a standard therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication

BACKGROUND: Primary antibiotic-resistance and poor compliance are the main causes of Helicobacter pylori eradication failure of standard regimens. AIM: To investigate eradication rate, patient compliance and tolerability of a 1-week once-daily levofloxacin plus azithromycin triple therapy versus the standard twice-daily triple therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 164 H. pylori-positive patients were randomised to either esomeprazole 20mg, levofloxacin 500 mg and azithromycin 500 mg once-daily (ELAz) or esomeprazole 20mg, clarithromycin 500 mg and amoxycillin 1g twice-daily (ECA) for 1 week. H. pylori infection was defined at entry by histology and urea breath test; cure of infection was determined both by negative urea breath test and H. pylori stool antigens. RESULTS: H. pylori eradication rates of ELAz and ECA were similar at intention-to-treat (both 65%) and per-protocol analyses (70% versus 76%, respectively). Incidence of poor compliance was lower, although not significantly, in patients randomised to ELAz than to ECA (4% versus 10%); tolerability was significantly higher for ELAz than for ECA (88% versus 70%; P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Once-daily levofloxacin plus azithromycin-based triple therapy achieves an H. pylori eradication rate comparable to that of standard twice-daily triple therapy, but is associated with higher patient compliance and might even be better tolerated.     

Evaluation of 13C-urea breath test to confirm eradication of Helicobacter pylori]

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the 13C-urea breath test (UBT) for assessment of Helicobacter pylori eradication after treatment. One hundred twenty six patients were enrolled with 85 receiving proton pomp inhibitor based triple therapy. They were underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with biopsies for diagnosis and assessment of H. pylori infection using culture, histology, rapid urease test (RUT) and 13C-UBT. Assessment of eradication needs to be performed 4 weeks or more after completion of treatment. Breath samples were taken 15 minutes after the ingestion of 100 mg 13C-urea. Breath samples were analyzed on a mass spectrometer system. The gold standard for H. pylori infection was a positive culture or positive histology + positive RUT; negative for infection was defined as negative results of all three biopsy tests. Based on ROC curves, the most appropriate cut-off value for diagnosis of H. pylori infection was identified as 2.5/1000, which provided 96.2% sensitivity, 100% specificity, and 96.8% accuracy as judged by the gold standard. However, when confirming the eradication of H. pylori, it was 3.5/1000, which provides for 100%, 95.8%, and 96.5%, respectively. Ten patients (11.8%) had delta13C values that were 2.5-5.0/1000 4-12 weeks after therapy. Eight patients were considered cured of H. pylori infection, and 2 were considered to still have H. pylori infection following 13C-UBT, serology, and H. pylori specific antigen test. The false-positive rate of 13C-UBT was 9.4% (8/85). When the grey zone of 13C-UBT was set at a level of 2.5 to 5.0/1000 (2.5 > : negative, 5.0 < or = : positive) after eradication therapy, the sensitivity and specificity of 13C-UBT was 100% and 98.4% compared to the gold standard. It was concluded that to avoid false-positive results of 13C-UBT, the grey zone of 13C-UBT needs to be set at a level of 2.5 to 5.0/1000; thus improving the accuracy of test for the assessment of eradication of H. pylori infection.     

三联疗法根除十二指肠溃疡病患者Hp感染效果及影响因素分析

目的研究十二指肠溃疡患者使用三联疗法治疗幽门螺杆菌（Hp）感染的根除率,评估患者依从性、年龄、性别对于此类人群根除Hp治疗的影响。方法新发十二指肠溃疡并明确有Hp感染的1038例患者均接受三联（洛赛克或耐信联合克拉霉素与阿莫西林）7d疗法行根除Hp治疗,之后予以耐信或洛赛克治疗35d。系统治疗完成后6—8周复查胃镜。结果十二指肠溃疡病患者Hp根除率为77．0％。40岁以下人群的治疗依从性较差,40岁以下与40岁以上患者的Hp根除率有统计学差异（P〈0．05）。不同性别十二指肠溃疡患者的Hp根除率无统计学差异（P〉0．05）。结论三联7d疗法对十二指肠溃疡病患者Hp的根除率较低,患者对治疗的依从性、年龄是影响十二指肠溃疡患者Hp根除率的重要因素。     

High-dose rabeprazole/amoxicillin therapy as the second-line regimen after failure to eradicate H. pylori by triple therapy with the usual doses of a proton pump inhibitor, clarithromycin and amoxicillin

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Some patients are refractory to the usual triple therapy for eradication of Helicobacter pylori, consisting of a proton pump inhibitor, amoxicillin and clarithromycin, so there needs to be an alternative strategy for retreatment after failure to eradicate the infection. METHODOLOGY: The study group comprised 17 H. pylori-positive patients who had failed to clear H. pylori infection after 1 week of treatment with usual doses of proton pump inhibitor, amoxicillin and clarithromycin. The sensitivity of H. pylori to clarithromycin and amoxicillin, and the CYP2C19 genotype status of each patient were determined and treatment with rabeprazole (10 mg qid) and amoxicillin (500 mg qid) for 2 weeks was started. RESULTS: Eleven patients were infected with a clarithromycin-resistant strain of H. pylori. Twelve patients had the homozygous extensive metabolizer genotype, 5 had the heterozygous extensive metabolizer genotype and there were none with the poor metabolizer genotype of CYP2C19. All patients were successfully cleared of their H. pylori infection without any adverse effects, irrespective of CYP2C19 genotype status (100%, 95% confidence interval: 76-100%). CONCLUSIONS: High-dose dual therapy with rabeprazole (10 mg qid) and amoxicillin (500 mg qid) for 2 weeks appears useful treatment strategy after failure of eradication of H. pylori by the usual triple proton pump inhibitor/amoxicillin/clarithromycin therapy.     

Maintenance treatment is not necessary after Helicobacter pylori eradication and healing of bleeding peptic ulcer: a 5-year prospective, randomized, controlled study

BACKGROUND: It is well accepted that in patients with uncomplicated peptic ulcers, Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy does not need to be followed by further antisecretory treatment. However, it is uncertain whether patients with bleeding peptic ulcers should receive maintenance antiulcer therapy after successful H pylori eradication and ulcer healing. The aim of this 5-year, prospective, randomized, controlled study was to investigate the role of long-term maintenance therapy after successful H pylori eradication and healing of bleeding ulcers. METHODS: A total of 82 consecutive patients with H pylori-associated bleeding peptic ulcers were enrolled in the study. After successful H pylori eradication with the 1-week proton pump inhibitor-based triple therapy and an additional 3-week treatment with 20 mg of omeprazole daily for ulcer healing, the patients were assigned to one of four 16-week maintenance treatment groups as follows: group A received 15 mL of an antacid suspension 4 times daily; group B received 300 mg of colloidal bismuth subcitrate 4 times daily; group C received 20 mg of famotidine twice daily; and group D, the control group, received placebo twice daily. Follow-up included an urea breath test labeled with carbon 13, biopsy-based tests, and repeated endoscopic examination. RESULTS: An analysis of variance revealed no difference in mean age and mean follow-up time among the groups. During a mean follow-up of 56 months, there was no peptic ulcer recurrence among the 3 treatment groups, and all of the patients remained free of H pylori infection during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with bleeding peptic ulcers, antiulcer maintenance treatment was not necessary to prevent ulcer recurrence after successful H pylori eradication and ulcer healing. In addition, the 1-week proton pump inhibitor-based triple therapy had the efficacy to ensure long-term eradication of H pylori in a region of high prevalence.