洛赛克、克拉霉素、替硝唑三联疗法治愈的十二指肠球部溃疡组织成熟度以及球部粘膜IL—10、IL—12水平的研究

目的 :探讨洛赛克、克拉霉素、替硝唑三联疗法治愈的十二指肠球部溃疡 (DU)“再生”粘膜组织成熟度和IL- 10、IL- 12的水平。方法 :将 64例幽门螺杆菌 (HP)阳性 DU患者随机分成 2组 :A组 3 6例 ,应用洛赛克 2 0 mg+克拉霉素 5 0 0 mg+替硝唑 5 0 0 mg,bid,共 1周 ;B组 2 8例 ,采取雷尼替丁 15 0 mg bid+阿莫西林 5 0 0 mg、甲硝唑 4 0 0 mg,tid,共 4周。停药 4～ 6周后复查胃镜 ,从 DU边缘或溃疡疤痕处活检粘膜组织以备组织学检查及 IL- 10、IL- 12的测定。用快速尿素酶试验和美蓝染色来检查 HP。结果 :A组溃疡愈合率 90 .91% ,显著高于 B组的 69.2 3 % (P<0 .0 5 ) ;A组 HP根除率也明显高于 B组 (93 .90 % vs69.2 3 % ,P<0 ,0 5 )。从再生粘膜组织成熟度来看 ,A组 73 .3 3 %为“良”,而 B组为“良”者仅 3 3 .3 3 % ,P<0 .0 1。A、B组治疗前球部粘膜 IL- 10水平均高于对照组 ,IL- 12水平也都高于对照组 ;治疗后 A组 IL-10的水平显著高于 B组和对照组 ,IL- 12水平恢复到正常水平 ;B组 IL- 10、IL- 12的水平基本上也恢复到正常水平。结论 :洛赛克、克拉霉素、替硝唑三联疗法治愈的组织成熟度优于含雷尼替丁方案。其可能抑制 IL- 12分泌 ,而促进 IL- 10的分泌 ,使 IL- 10在溃疡愈合后的一段时间内维持在较     

瑞倍三联疗法治疗十二指肠球部溃疡及根除幽门螺杆菌的临床观察

目的 观察枸橼酸铋雷尼替丁(Ranitidine Bismuth Citrate，RBC瑞倍)为主的4周三联疗法的十二指肠球部溃疡治愈率及出门螺杆菌(Helicohbacter Pyliri，HP)根除疗效及安全性。方法将80例十二指肠球部溃疡及HP阳性患者随机分为瑞倍治疗组(A组)与奥美拉唑三联疗法组(B组)，疗程为4周。用C14呼气实验检测HP根除效果，并于疗程结束后1个月复查胃镜，评价溃疡愈合率。结果 两组HP根除率分别为：A组：95．0％，B组87．5％，溃疡治愈率为：A组：97．5％，B组：95．0％。结论 以瑞倍为主的三联疗法的溃疡治愈率和HP根除率与奥美拉唑组相似。     

埃索美拉唑三联与奥美拉唑三联治疗HP阳性十二指肠溃疡的临床对比研究

目的 比较埃索美拉唑三联与奥美拉唑三联治疗HP阳性十二指肠溃疡的临床疗效.方法 将82例HP阳性的十二指肠溃疡患者随机分为2组.EAC组(埃索美拉唑+阿莫西林+克拉霉素)和OAC组(奥美拉唑+阿莫西林+克拉霉素);EAC组41例,OAC组41例,疗程2周.4周后复查胃镜并检测HP,观察溃疡愈合率、HP根除率及临床症状缓解情况等.结果 EAC组前三天临床症状缓解率分别为34.1%、58.5%和70.7%,明显高于OAC组14.6%、36.6%和58.5%(P＜0.05);EAC和OAC组溃疡愈合率为95.1%和92.7%,HP根除率为87.8%和85.3%(P>0.05).两组用药后安全性好,不良反应少.结论 埃索美拉唑三联治疗HP阳性的十二指肠溃疡临床症状缓解速度优于奥美拉唑三联治疗.     

国产潘托拉唑、克拉霉素治疗十二指肠溃疡合并幽门螺杆菌的临床研究

目的 :比较国产潘托拉唑与进口潘托拉唑对十二指肠球部溃疡的疗效 ;国产潘托拉唑、克拉霉素加羟氨苄青霉素三联抗幽门螺杆菌 (HP)方案对十二指肠球部溃疡合并HP感染的疗效。方法 :112例患者进入试验 ,可评价病例10 5例 ,试验包括两部分 :单用药部分 ( 4 5例 )随机分组 ,分别使用国产潘托拉唑和进口潘托拉唑 40mg ,每日 1次 ,用药 2周 ,比较溃疡愈合率 ;三联用药部分均为十二指肠球部溃疡合并HP感染者 ,随机分组 ,分别使用国产潘托拉唑和克拉霉素加羟氨苄青霉素与进口潘托拉唑和进口克拉霉素加羟氨苄青霉素。潘托拉唑疗程 2周 ,抗生素疗程 1周 ,比较HP根除率及用药期间的不良事件。结果 :国产和进口潘托拉唑治疗十二指肠球部溃疡 2周愈合率分别为 84 0 %和 80 0 % (P>0 0 5 ) ,3日疼痛缓解率分别为 70 2 %和 6 6 7% ,平均疼痛缓解时间分别为 4 2 1± 2 8天和 3 93± 1 8天 ;国产三联和进口三联HP根除率分别为 73 3 %和 83 3 % (P >0 0 5 ) ;国产药组与进口药组不良事件发生率分别为 3 4 0 %和3 2 0 % ,无显著性差异。结论 :国产潘托拉唑和克拉霉素在治疗十二指肠球部溃疡合并HP感染方面与进口同类产品相比疗效相当、同样安全而且价格较低 ,适合国内应用。     

洛赛克、克拉霉素、替硝唑三联疗法治疗愈合的十二指肠球部溃疡患者组织成熟度的观察

目的观察洛赛克、克拉霉素、替硝唑三联疗法治疗已愈合的十二指肠球部溃疡(DU)患者“再生”黏膜组织成熟度的变化。方法将64例幽门螺杆菌(HP)感染的活动性DU患者随机分成2组:洛赛克组(36例)应用洛赛克20mg+克拉霉素500mg+替硝唑500mg,每日2次,共用1周;雷尼替丁组(28例)采取雷尼替丁150mg每日2次+阿莫西林500mg每日3次+甲硝唑400mg每日3次,共4周。结果洛赛克组和雷尼替丁组分别有3例和2例失访。洛赛克组和雷尼替丁组溃疡愈合率分别为90.91%(30/33)和69.23%(18/26),P<0.05;洛赛克组和雷尼替丁组HP根除率分别为93.94%(31/33)和65.38%(17/26),P<0.05;再生黏膜组织成熟度洛赛克组30例有22例为良(73.33%),而雷尼替丁组18例中仅6例(33.33%)为良,P<0.01。结论洛赛克、克拉霉素、替硝唑1周三联疗法的HP根除率高,再生黏膜组织成熟度优于含雷尼替丁组方案。     

幽门螺杆菌感染患儿三联疗法治疗后继发难辨梭菌感染分析

背景:近年来,难辨梭菌(CD)感染在儿童中的发病率及其严重程度有不断上升的趋势。根除幽门螺杆菌(Hp)感染标准三联疗法中的抗菌药物和质子泵抑制剂(PPIs)均与CD感染有关。甲硝唑既是三联疗法中的常用抗菌药物组分,又是治疗CD感染的重要药物。目的:探讨含甲硝唑三联疗法降低Hp感染患儿根除治疗后继发CD感染的作用。方法:187例经胃镜和活检病理检查确诊的慢性胃炎或胃溃疡伴Hp感染患儿纳入研究,随机接受OAM(奥美拉唑+阿莫西林+甲硝唑)或OAC(奥美拉唑+阿莫西林+克拉霉素)方案根除治疗。三联疗法治疗结束后4周复查胃镜并检测Hp,以酶联荧光免疫法对粪便标本中的CD毒素A/B进行定性检测。83名健康儿童作为正常对照组。结果:OAM组与OAC组间Hp根除率(86.5%对84.6%)、临床症状缓解率(92.7%对95.6%)和溃疡愈合有效率(81.6%对82.8%)差异均无统计学意义(P0.05)。OAC组CD感染率显著高于OAM组和正常对照组(37.4%对10.4%和7.2%,P均0.01),OAM组与正常对照组间差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:含甲硝唑三联疗法能有效减少Hp感染患儿根除治疗后的继发CD感染,且不影响根除治疗的疗效。     

根除及补救方案治疗儿童幽门螺杆菌感染的临床研究

156例幽门螺杆菌(Hp)感染患儿随机分为两组,A组给予克拉霉素、奥美拉唑、阿莫西林三联1周疗法,B组给予甲硝唑、奥美拉唑、阿莫西林2周疗法进行Hp根除治疗.对耐药病例分别采用阿奇霉素、奥美拉唑、阿莫西林三联1周及克拉霉素增大剂量并延长奥美拉唑疗程的补救方案进行复治.发现A、B组根除率比较无统计学差异(87% vs 82%,P>0.05);23例耐药病例经补救方案复治后,A、B组根除率比较亦无统计学差异(84.6% vs 60%,P>0.05).认为以上两种治疗方法均安全有效、易接受;耐药病例选择阿奇霉素或增加克拉霉素剂量,延长奥美拉唑疗程作为补救治疗是目前儿童Hp感染复治的理想方案.     

洛赛克、克拉霉素合并呋喃唑酮或甲硝唑短程三联疗法根除幽门螺杆菌的研究

70例幽门螺杆菌(Hp)感染的消化性溃疡或功能性消化不良患者随机分成A、B两组,接受7天抗Hp三联治疗。A组的治疗方案为:洛赛克20mg、克拉霉素250mg和呋喃唑酮100mg,一日二次:B组的方案为:洛赛克20mg、克拉霉素250mg和甲硝唑400mg,一日二次:A、B组中分别有1例和2例失访。结果显示,A、B组的Hp根除率分别为88.2％(30/34)和78.8％(26/33)(P=0.297):治疗前Hp菌株对克拉霉素和甲硝唑的耐药率分别为5.9％(4/67)和37.7％(25/67):克拉霉素耐药4例的Hp均未得到根除:B组中对甲硝唑耐药者的Hp根除率为66.6％(8/12),而敏感者的根除率为85.7％(18/21)(P=0.198);A、B组中消化性溃疡的愈合率分别为93.3％(14/15)和85.7％(12/14)(P=0.501);两组中各2例有轻度的副反应。Hp菌株对克拉霉素、甲硝唑耐约是影响上述低剂量、短疗程方案疗效的重要因素。A组三联疗法的Hp根除率高于B组,可作为第一或第二线方案应用。     

雷尼替丁三联疗法对幽门螺杆菌阳性十二指肠溃疡的近期及远期疗效

对82例幽门螺杆菌(HP)阳性的十二指肠溃疡用雷尼替丁、羟氨苄青霉素和甲硝唑三联疗法2周,追踪1年,并与145例铋剂三联疗法病例对照。结果治疗组溃疡愈合率87.8%,HP根除率89.0%;对照组两参数为92.4%和85.7%(P均＞0.05)。治疗组副反应显著少。追踪1年,治疗组HP感染再燃9例(12.3%),重感染2例(2.7%),溃疡复发率HP阴转组1/61(1.6%),HP阳性组7/11(63.6%)(P＜0.01)。因再燃率高且在停药后4~8周发生,建议修定HP根除的标准时间,应从4周末延到8周末。     

药物联合治疗消化性溃疡的疗效观察

为探讨治疗消化性溃疡并根除幽门螺杆菌(HP)的理想方案，我们应用奥美拉唑、克拉霉素、甲硝唑三联；对照组应用法莫替丁、克拉霉素、甲硝唑，枸橼酸铋钾四联治疗Hp感染的消化性溃疡，同时对疗程2周的Hp根除率和疗程4周的溃疡愈合率进行对比研究，现报告如下。     

奥美拉唑或兰索拉唑、阿莫西林、呋喃唑酮短程三联疗法根除幽门螺杆菌

目的探索根除率较高、价廉、安全实用的HP根除方案.方法137例消化性溃疡或糜烂性胃窦炎患者,随机分为3组A组44例,以奥美拉唑20mg+克拉霉素250mg+替硝唑500mg每天2次,疗程7天,即Bazzoli方案;B组47例,以奥美拉唑20mg+阿莫西林1000mg+呋喃唑酮100mg,每天2次,疗程7天;C组46例,以兰索拉唑30mg每天1次,阿莫西林1000mg+呋喃唑酮100mg每天2次,疗程7天.活动期溃疡患者抗HP治疗后继服奥美拉唑20mg或兰索拉唑30mg,每天1次,3周.抗HP治疗结束1月后复查胃镜并检测HP.结果A、B、C3组的HP根除率分别为90.9%、87.2%和89.1%;活动期溃疡愈合率分别为100%、93.8%和100%;糜烂性胃窦炎愈合率分别为85.2%、79.2%和92.2%;副反应发生率分别为13.6%、6.4%和8.7%.各组间差异无显著性,P＞0.05.A、B、C3组每例抗HP所需费用分别为544.5元、309.0元和170.5元.结论方案B、C是2种新的、根除率较高、价廉、安全实用的HP根除方案.     

One Week of Esomeprazole Triple Therapy vs. 1 Week of Omeprazole Triple Therapy Plus 3 Weeks of Omeprazole for Duodenal Ulcer Healding in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helicobacter pylori</Emphasis>-Positive Patients

In this randomized, double-blind, multicenter study, H. pylori-positive patients with an active duodenal ulcer (DU) received esomeprazole, 20 mg twice daily (bid), or omeprazole, 20 mg bid, with amoxicillin, 1000 mg bid, and clarithromycin, 500 mg bid, for 1 week (EAC and OAC, respectively). Patients received an additional 3 weeks of either placebo or omeprazole, 20 mg once daily (od), in the EAC and OAC groups, respectively. The intent-to-treat population included 374 patients (EAC, 186; OAC, 188). Four-week DU healing rates were similar in the EAC+placebo and OAC+omeprazole groups: 74% and 76%, respectively. DU healing rates at 8 weeks were 87% for EAC+placebo and 88% for OAC+omeprazole. H. pylori eradication rates were 75% and 79% for EAC and OAC, respectively. Both regimens were well tolerated. A 1-week regimen of esomeprazole-based H. pylori eradication triple therapy was as effective for DU healing and eradication of H. pylori as omeprazole-based triple therapy followed by an additional 3 weeks of monotherapy.     

克拉霉素、呋喃唑酮合并兰索拉唑或胶体次枸橼酸铋短程三联疗法根除幽门螺杆菌的研究

88例幽门螺杆菌(Hp)感染的卜:指肠溃疡(DU)和功能性消化不良患耆分两期研究.接受7天克拉霉素合并的j联治疗。I期乃预研究,28例随饥分婀组接受电托堪索500mg、呋喃畔刚200mg合}}I}变体次枸橼酸铋(CBS)240mg(A组)或、!索托哗30mg(B组)。¨?次治疗。60例进入ll;《Ij研究符心分AfllB同组.药物配合方棠M I期.似除CBS外.接他药物刊毓i或、{i l、I】彬j—IJ舒BlJ仃4例科】1例Iq约物驯f互『-?术。t限:i^_j’.火i方2例i^泶!Il!_,Ji.I垮jA、BiH f10H1)根除半分SIj为100~;i,(12,12)f1 J91.6‘％(11 12):Il㈣A,B纠i n0Hp橄除?}行}jl_乃92 6‘j;,(25,一’27)和90.0％(27,30)备组问的Hp撤除?爷无!It并蓐别(P>0.0j)。I、ll期·l,削J三J-t j幸j,,别乃64.2,}2,(18j28)和Ij】”i(3/58)(P<0.001)。lI期A、B两组的DU愈合率分别为94.4％(17/18)和100％(18/18)。lJ期r}·的两种低制m地程j联{j’}J、地较乃圳魁的Hp橄除玎案.7.5％(4/j3)的Hp曲株则电十￡。《豢味发耐药.足i青,j:欠帔的{:嘤味N     

Omeprazole once or twice daily with clarithromycin and metronidazole for Helicobacter pylori.

BACKGROUND: Triple therapy for one week with omeprazole, clarithromycin and metronidazole (OCM) is accepted worldwide as a first line therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication. It is unclear whether omeprazole needs to be given once or twice daily. OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy and safety of these regimens in a single-centre, Canadian practice. METHODS: Histologically proven H pylori-positive patients were treated for seven days with clarithromycin 250 mg bid and metronidazole 500 mg bid, and randomly allocated to omeprazole 20 mg either once or twice daily in this open, cohort study. Endoscopy with histology (two antrum and two body biopsies, Giemsa stain) was done four weeks or longer after the pills were completed to assess H pylori eradication. RESULTS: Whether omeprazole was given once or twice daily, eradication was high and the same in both arms. All-patients-treated eradication was 85% (39 of 46 in the omeprazole once daily group and 41 of 48 in the omeprazole twice daily group) and intent-to-treat eradication was 80% (39 of 49 in the omeprazole once daily group and 41 of 51 in the omeprazole twice daily group). Side effects were frequently seen, suffered by 65% to 69% of patients treated. However, these were mild and compliance was high, with 94% of patients taking all of their pills. Mild side effects included loose stools, taste disturbance, nausea, headache and upper or lower gastrointestinal gas. Only one patient (1%) from the omeprazole once daily arm stopped taking metronidazole due to excessive perspiring. CONCLUSIONS: In this community practice, OCM triple therapy was effective whether omeprazole was given once or twice daily. For those with financial constraint, omeprazole 20 mg once daily can be considered. The regimens were well tolerated without serious adverse events.     

根除幽门螺杆菌治疗十二指肠溃疡的随机对照研究

通过根除幽门螺杆菌（Ｈｐ）治疗（不加用任何抗酸或抑酸药物）观察十二指肠溃疡（ＤＵ）的愈合率。方法：１１５例Ｈｐ感染的ＤＵ患者随机分为两组,接受７天铋剂三联治疗。Ａ组口服替硝唑５００ｍｇ、克拉霉素２５０ｍｇ和胶体次构橼酸铋２２０ｍｇ各每日２次,疗程７天,Ｂ组在Ａ组基础上加服奥美拉唑每日２０ｍｇ,疗程４周。服药前和停止抗ＨＰ治疗后４周作胃镜检查及~ （１３）Ｃ－尿素呼气试验。结果：１０７例患者完成治疗和复查,８例失访。Ａ、Ｂ两组的ＤＵ愈合率分别为９２．５％（９５％可信区间为８５．４％～９９．６％）和９６．３％（９５％可信区间为９１．３％～１００％）;两组Ｈｐ根除率分别为９４．３％（９５％可信区间为８８．１％～１００％）和９８．１％（９５％可信区间为９４．５％～１００％）,统计学上均无显著差异（＞０．０５）。服药１周内上腹痛缓解率Ｂ组明显高于Ａ组（Ｐ＜０．００５）。两组方案均未发现有明显不良反应。结论：Ｈｐ感染的ＤＵ患者经根除ＨＰ治疗,溃疡能自行愈合而不需使用抑酸药物;奥美拉唑能迅速减轻或消除ＤＵ患者的上腹痛症状;本治疗方案具有Ｈｐ根除率高、疗程短、依从性好和不良反应少等优点。     

One week of treatment with esomeprazole-based triple therapy eradicates Helicobacter pylori and heals patients with duodenal ulcer disease.

BACKGROUND: Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) monotherapy is commonly continued for 3 weeks after Helicobacter pylori eradication with PPI-based triple therapy regimens to ensure duodenal ulcer (DU) healing. This randomized, double-blind, multicentre study evaluated whether only 1 week of triple therapy with the new PPI esomeprazole was sufficient to ensure high rates of ulcer healing and H. pylori eradication. METHODS: A total of 446 H. pylori-positive patients with active DU received twice daily treatment with esomeprazole 20 mg (n = 222) or omeprazole 20 mg (n = 224) in combination with amoxicillin 1 g and clarithromycin 500 mg for 1 week (EAC and OAC, respectively). Patients in the OAC group then received 3 weeks' monotherapy with omeprazole 20 mg once daily; those treated with EAC received placebo. Ulcer healing was assessed by endoscopy on completion of therapy and H. pylori status was assessed by (13)C-urea breath testing and histology 4-6 weeks later. RESULTS: Ulcer healing rates (95% CI) for intention-to-treat and per-protocol populations were: EAC + placebo 91% (87-95%) and 94% (90-97%); OAC + omeprazole 92% (88-95%) and 96% (92-98%). Corresponding H. pylori eradication rates were: EAC + placebo 86% (81-90%) and 89% (84-93%); OAC + omeprazole 88% (83-92%) and 90% (85-93%). Both eradication regimens were well tolerated, and patient compliance was high. CONCLUSIONS: A 1-week regimen of esomeprazole-based triple therapy is sufficient for DU healing and H. pylori eradication in patients with DU disease.     

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.     

Effects of killing Helicobacter pyloriquadruple therapy on peptic ulcer： A randomized double-blind clinical trial

AIM: To study the therapeutic efficacy of a Chinese and Western integrated regimen, killing Helicobacter pylori quadruple therapy on H pylori-associated peptic ulcers (PU). METHODS: With prospective and double-blind controlled method, seventy-five active PU patients with H pylori infection were randomized to receive one of the following three regimens: (1) new triple therapy (group A: lansoprazole 30 mg qd, plus clarithromycin 250 mg bid, plus amoxycillin 500 mg tid, each for 10 d); (2) killing Hp quadruple therapy(group B: the three above drugs plus killing H pylori capsule 6 capsules bid for 4 wk) and (3) placebo(group C: gastropine 3 tablets bid for 4 wk). H pylori eradication and ulcer healing quality were evaluated under an endoscope 4 wk after treatment. The patients were followed up for 5 years. RESULTS: Both the healing rate of PU and H pylori eradication rate in group B were significantly higher than those in group C (100% and 96.4% vs20% and 0%, respectively,P<0.005), but there was no significant difference compared to those in group A (88% and 92%, P>0.05). The healing quality of ulcer in group B was superior to that in groups C and A (P<0.05). The recurrence rate of PU in group B (4%) was lower than that in group A (10%) and group C (100%,P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Killing Helicobacter pylori quadruple therapy can not only promote the eradication of H pylori and healing quality of ulcer but also reduce recurrence rate of ulcer.     

Prevalence of resistance to clarithromycin and its clinical impact on the efficacy of Helicobacter pylori eradication.

BACKGROUND: Triple therapy with a proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) in combination with metronidazole and clarithromycin is the method of choice for eradication of Helicobacter pylori. Failures have been primarily blamed on the development of resistance to clarithromycin. The present study investigated the prevalence and clinical significance of resistance to clarithromycin and metronidazole in determining therapeutic success of both triple therapy as a primary eradication method and high-dose dual therapy in non-responders. METHODS: On the basis of prior therapy, H. pylori-positive patients were assigned to one of two groups in the present prospective study. Group A (n = 93) included patients who had not undergone any prior eradication treatment, whereas group B (n = 15) consisted of patients who had received clarithromycin but in whom eradication had been unsuccessful. All patients underwent endoscopy with biopsy for bacterial culture and resistance studies. Patients in group A were treated with a 7-day regimen of pantoprazole (40 mg twice daily), metronidazole (500 mg twice daily), and clarithromycin (250 mg twice daily), whereas those in group B received omeprazole (40 mg three times a day) and amoxycillin (1000 mg three times a day ) for 14 days. Success of the eradication treatment was ascertained by means of the 13C urea breath test. RESULTS: In group A resistance to clarithromycin and metronidazole was identified in 3 patients (4.9%) and in 14 patients (22.9%), respectively. Eradication proved successful in 78 of 84 patients (92.6%) followed up. Two of the 3 patients with primary clarithromycin resistance and 1 of the 14 patients with metronidazole resistance did not respond to treatment. In group B isolated or combined resistance to clarithromycin was found in seven patients, whereas another four showed isolated resistance to metronidazole. Eradication proved successful in 10 of 13 controlled patients (76.9%) followed up, and only 2 patients reported severe side effects. CONCLUSION: Determination of antibiotic resistance before initiating therapy is not necessary, since primary resistance to clarithromycin is rare. The Italian triple therapy remains a highly effective primary therapeutic method. Further, routine determination of resistance in non-responders also seems to be superfluous because high-dose dual therapy is an effective and well-tolerated second-line therapy regardless of the patients' resistance status.