Failure of a 1-day high-dose quadruple therapy for cure of Helicobacter pylori infection
Authors: Wermeille1; Cunningham2; Armenian2; Zelger1; Buri3; Merki4; Hadengue2
Source: Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Volume 13, Number 2, February 1999 , pp. 173-177(5)
Publisher: Blackwell Publishing
Abstract:
Background: The optimal duration of treatment for eradication of Helicobacter pylori has still to be defined. A 1-day high-dose quadruple therapy with a combination of amoxycillin (or tetracycline), metronidazole, a bismuth salt and a proton pump inhibitor has led to eradication rates of 57-77%. In view of the high frequency of metronidazole-resistant strains of H. pylori in Europe, we hypothesized that by using clarithromycin in place of metronidazole and by increasing the dose of proton pump inhibitor, the efficacy of a 1-day high-dose quadruple therapy could be improved. Methods: Patients were randomized to receive either amoxycillin 1000 mg b.d., clarithromycin 500 mg b.d. and lansoprazole 30 mg b.d. for 7 days, or amoxycillin 2000 mg q.d.s., clarithromycin 500 mg q.d.s., lansoprazole 30 mg t.d.s. and bismuth subcitrate 240 mg q.d.s. for 1 day. Results: It was originally intended to include 100 patients. The first planned interim analysis performed after follow-up was completed for 30 patients revealed H. pylori eradication rates of 80% (12/15) in the 7-day triple therapy group and 20% (3/15) in the 1-day quadruple therapy group, the difference being highly significant (P = 0.003). Because the efficacy of the 1-day treatment was so low, the study was stopped for ethical reasons. Eleven patients who failed with the 1-day treatment were re-treated with the 7-day triple therapy: the eradication rate was 91% (10/11). Conclusions: One-day high-dose quadruple therapy with amoxycillin, clarithromycin, lansoprazole and bismuth subcitrate is dramatically less effective than the classic 7-day triple therapy with the same antibiotics.Document Type: Original article
DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2036.1999.00447.x
Affiliations: 1: Department of Pharmacology and Anaesthesiology, University Hospitals of Geneva, Switzerland, 2: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospitals of Geneva, Switzerland, 3: Pharmacy Section, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, Switzerland, 4: Department of Gastroenterology, Beau-site Hospitals Bern, Switzerland

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