Comparison of the efficacy of 250 mg and 500 mg clarithromycin used with lansoprazole and amoxicillin in eradication regimens forHelicobacter pylori infection

The effect of antibiotic resistance on Helicobacter pylori eradication efficacy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The occurrence of antibiotic-resistant strains has been rapidly increasing due to the wide use of antibiotics. To evaluate the current effects of antibiotic resistance on Helicobacter pylori eradication efficacy, we conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

Literature searches were conducted in the following databases: PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA version 12.0 (StataCorp LP, College Station, TX, USA).

RESULTS

A total of 120 studies, including 28 707 patients, were assessed. Only first-line therapy was considered. The pooled RR of eradication rate in patients with Helicobacter pylori strains sensitive versus resistant to clarithromycin was 0.682 (95% CI: 0.636-0.731). The pooled RR of eradication rate in patients with Helicobacter pylori strains sensitive versus resistant to metronidazole was 0.843 (95% CI: 0.810-0.877). The pooled RR of eradication rate in patients with Helicobacter pylori strains sensitive versus resistant to levofloxacin was 0.794 (95% CI: 0.669-0.941). The pooled RR of eradication rate in patients with Helicobacter pylori strains sensitive versus resistant to dual clarithromycin and metronidazole was 0.674 (95% CI: 0.590-0.770).

CONCLUSION

Antibiotic resistance causes a decrease in the eradication rate of H pylori today. Quadruple concomitant therapy may overcome the declining H pylori eradication rate caused by metronidazole-only resistance.

ANTI-ULCEROGENIC EFFICACY AND MECHANISMS OF EDIBLE AND NATURAL INGREDIENTS IN NSAID-INDUCED ANIMAL MODELS

Background:

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are a class of the most commonly used medicines and proven to be effective for certain disorders. Some people use NSAIDs on daily basis for preventive purpose. But a variety of severe side effects can be induced by NSAIDs. Studies have shown that edible natural ingredients exhibit preventive benefit of gastric ulcer. This paper reviews the efficacy and safety of edible natural ingredients in preventing the development of gastric ulcer induced by NSAIDs in animal models.

Methods:

A systematic literature search was conducted on PubMed, using the terms “herbal medicines” and “gastric ulcer”, “herbal medicines” and “peptic ulcer”, “food” and “peptic ulcer”, “food” and “gastric ulcer”, “natural ingredient” and “peptic ulcer”, “natural ingredient” and “gastric ulcer”, “alternative medicine” and “peptic ulcer”, “alternative medicine” and “gastric ulcer”, “complementary medicine” and “peptic ulcer”, “complementary medicine” and “gastric ulcer” in papers published in English between January 1, 1960 and January 31, 2016, resulting in a total of 6146 articles containing these terms. After exclusion of studies not related prevention, not in NSAID model or using non-edible natural ingredients, 54 articles were included in this review.

Results:

Numerous studies have demonstrated that edible natural ingredients exhibit antiulcerogenic benefit in NSAID-induced animal models. The mechanisms by which edible, ingredient-induced anti-ulcerogenic effects include stimulation of mucous cell proliferation, antioxidation, inhibition of gastric acid secretion, as well as inhibition of H (+), K (+)- ATPase activities. Utilization of edible, natural ingredients could be a safe, valuable alternative to prevent the development of NSAID-induced gastric ulcer, particularly for the subjects who are long-term users of NSAIDs.

Severe gastritis decreases success rate of Helicobacter pylori eradication

BACKGROUND

In several studies, different risk factors other than antibiotic resistance have been documented with Helicobacter pylori eradication failure. We aimed in this study to investigate the relationship of gastric density of H. pylori, the occurrence/degree of gastric atrophy, and intestinal metaplasia (IM) with success rate of H. pylori eradication.

METHODS

Two hundred consecutive treatment naive patients who received bismuth containing standart quadruple treatment due to H. pylori infection documented by histopathological examination of two antral or two corpal biopsies entered this retrospective study. The updated Sydney system was used to grade the activity of gastritis, density of H. pylori colonization, atrophy, and IM. Stages III and IV of operative link for gastritis assessment (OLGA) or the operative link on gastric intestinal metaplasia assessment (OLGIM) stages was considered as severe gastritis. H. pylori eradication was determined via stool H. pylori antigen test performed 4 weeks after the end of therapy.

RESULTS

The presence of gastric atrophy and IM was significantly higher in patients with eradication failure (p = 0.001 and 0.01, respectively). Severe gastritis (OLGA III-IV and OLGIM III-IV) rates were higher in eradication failure group. A multiple linear regression analysis showed that OLGA and OLGIM stages were to be independent risk factors for eradication failure (p = 0.03 and 0.01, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Our results suggested that histopathologically severe gastritis may cause H. pylori eradication failure. In addition, we found that H. pylori density was not a risk factor for treatment failure in patients who receive quadruple treatment.

Systematic review and meta-analysis: full- vs. half-dose anti-microbials in clarithromycin-based regimens for Helicobacter pylori eradication

BACKGROUND

Half-dose regimens may be equally effective but associated with diminished adverse events (AE) than standard-dose regimens.

AIM

To assess efficacy and safety of full- vs. half-dose clarithromycin in the treatment of H. pylori.

METHODS

Medline, EMBASE and PubMed databases were searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that meet eligibility criteria. Only parallel group RCTs with ≥ 2 arms were eligible. Studies comparing triple, quadruple or sequential therapy for 7-14 days were selected. Regimens had to contain the same drug combination, differing only in dosage; the comparison of full- vs. half-dose clarithromycin was required, regardless if other drugs were dose-reduced or not. Data extraction was performed for primary outcome [eradication by intent-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analyses] and secondary outcome (AE).

RESULTS

A total of 1622 articles were identified, of which 19 studies were eligible. Overall, eradication was achieved in 82.5% of half-dose (n = 2115) vs. 83.4% of full-dose recipients (n = 2109) on ITT (87.1% vs. 88.4% on PP respectively). Pooled relative risk in the half- vs. full-dose regimen was 0.98 (95% CI: 0.95-1.02) on ITT and 0.99 (95% CI: 0.97-1.01) on PP by the random effects model. Heterogeneity was significant (chi-squared statistic P = 0.05, I(2) = 37%). AE were reported in 29.3% of half- vs. 44.0% of full-dose recipients [pooled RR 0.67 (95% CI: 0.60-0.75)]. Pre-planned subgroup analyses of dose modification, sample size, study origin and treatment duration, as well as sensitivity analysis showed no significant differences between arms.

CONCLUSION

A half-dose clarithromycin-based regimen is equally effective yet better tolerated than its full-dose counterpart in the treatment of H. pylori.

High eradication rate of H. pylori with moxifloxacin-based treatment: a randomized controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Eradication of Helicobacter pylori remains a problematic treatment issue in clinical practice. The intention is to find a treatment that achieves a high rate of eradication at a low price and treatment options that are now used give us the opportunity to achieve this goal. Recently published results showing a low rate of resistance and better compliance with moxifloxacin-based treatment regimens indicate the need to investigate its efficacy in H. pylori eradication. This study is based on proving the efficacy of moxifloxacin in H. pylori eradication within the triple therapy.

AIMS AND METHODS

The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of one week of moxifloxacin-based treatment with the standard treatment for H. pylori eradication. Patients with H. pylori infection and non-ulcer dyspepsia (n = 277) were randomly divided into four groups to receive: moxifloxacin 400 mg/d, metronidazole 400 mg twice daily, lansoprazole 30 mg twice daily (MML group); moxifloxacin 400 mg/d, amoxicillin 1 g twice daily, lansoprazole 30 mg twice daily (MAL group); clarithromycin 500 mg twice daily, metronidazole 400 mg twice daily, lansoprazole 30 mg twice daily (CML group); clarithromycin 500 mg twice daily, amoxicillin 1 g twice daily, lansoprazole 30 mg twice daily (CAL group). The patients were assessed for prevalence of H. pylori using the CLO test, histology and culture on gastric biopsy samples obtained during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy before randomization and 4-6 weeks after completion of treatment. Bacterial sensitivity to clarithromycin and moxifloxacin was determined with the E-test.

RESULTS

265 (95.6%) patients completed the study forming the basis for PP analysis. Eradication rates of H. pylori in ITT and in PP analyses were: in the MML group 93.5% (58/62) and 96.7% (58/60), respectively; in the MAL group 86.4% (57/66) and 90.5% (57/63); in the CML group 70.4% (50/71) and 75.8% (50/66); and in the CAL group 78.2% (61/78) and 80.2% (61/76). Moxifloxacin treatment protocols were significantly more effective on both ITT and PP analyses than the clarithromycin based protocols with only one exception (MAL vs. CAL on ITT analysis). Among 238 patients (86% of the entire study group), strains showing primary resistance to clarithromycin were found in 10.8% and to moxifloxacin in 5.9%. Eradication of moxifloxacin sensitive/resistant strains was 98.1%/75% for MML (p < 0.01) and 91.1%/66.7% for MAL (p = n.s.); comparison of eradication of sensitive strains in MML and MAL regimens was 98.1%/91.1% (p < 0.05), and for resistant strains 75%/66.7% (p = n.s.). CML and CAL protocols did not differ in efficacy of eradication of clarithromycin sensitive or resistant strains.

CONCLUSION

Moxifloxacin-based triple therapies showed higher eradication rates with few side effects and good drug compliance when compared with standard H. pylori treatments. Moreover, the increased prevalence of clarithromycin resistance suggests that moxifloxacin-based regimens could be safe and effective options in treatment of H. pylori infection.

Meta-analysis: the effect of antibiotic resistance status on the efficacy of triple and quadruple first-line therapies for Helicobacter pylori

BACKGROUND

Information regarding the effects of drug resistance on therapies for Helicobacter pylori is limited.

AIMS

To determine the effect of drug resistance on the efficacy of first-line treatment regimens for H. pylori and identify the most efficacious treatments in the presence of drug resistance.

METHODS

We searched for studies using the keywords: 'Helicobacter pylori','resistance' and 'treatment' or 'therapy'. Multilevel meta-regression models were used to determine the effect of drug resistance on treatment efficacy.

RESULTS

We analysed data from 93 studies with 10,178 participants. For triple therapies, clarithromycin resistance had a greater effect on treatment efficacy than nitroimidazole resistance. Metronidazole resistance reduced efficacy by 26% in triple therapies containing a nitroimidazole, tetracycline and bismuth, while efficacy was reduced by only 14% when a gastric acid inhibitor was added to the regimen. Quadruple therapies containing both clarithromycin and metronidazole were the most efficacious; >80% of H. pylori infections were consistently eradicated with these regimens.

CONCLUSIONS

Drug resistance was a strong predictor of efficacy across triple therapies for the eradication of H. pylori in adults. Resistance to either clarithromycin or metronidazole, but not both simultaneously, may be overcome by using quadruple therapies, especially those containing both clarithromycin and metronidazole.

Videoendoscopy and histopathology of the esophagogastric junction in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

During endoscopy the stomach is considered to rise at the level of the 'gastric' folds; however, anatomical studies have demonstrated that the proximal gastric folds may in fact be esophageal. This prospective study was designed to assess the histopathology of endoscopically visible proximal gastric folds in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease.

METHODS

35 consecutive patients (20 males) with gastroesophageal reflux disease underwent video endoscopy, including biopsy sampling from the endoscopically visible esophagogastric junction (0 cm, 0.5 cm and 1.0 cm distal to the rise of gastric folds and 0.5 cm and 1.0 cm proximal to it). Endoscopy was digitally recorded and reviewed for assignment of biopsy level. Columnar-lined esophagus and esophagitis were cataloged according to the Paull-Chandrasoma histopathologic classification and the Los Angeles endoscopic classification.

RESULTS

Endoscopy: Normal endoscopic esophagogastric junction was seen in 11 (31%) patients and visible columnar-lined esophagus < or = 0.5 cm in 24 (69%).

HISTOLOGY

Columnar-lined esophagus extended 1.0 cm in 22.8% of patients and 0.5 cm in 51.4%, distal to the rise of the gastric folds. In all patients columnar-lined esophagus was interposed between squamous epithelium and gastric oxyntic mucosa. Thus, so-called gastric folds contained mucosa of esophageal origin in all patients. Intestinal metaplasia (Barrett esophagus) was detected in eight (22.9%) patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopy cannot exclude histopathologic columnar-lined esophagus within gastric rugae. Thus, visible 'gastric' folds should not be used for definition of the esophagogastric junction but as a reference landmark for biopsy sampling during endoscopy.

Treatment of Helicobacter pylori

The efficacy of established Helicobacter pylori regimes needs to be reviewed. In view of drug resistance, side effects, and compliance and expense of therapy, treatment failure is increasing and second-line treatment strategies need to be developed. A simulation model suggested by the Cochrane review group showed that H. pylori eradication is cost-effective for duodenal and gastric ulcer long-term. The duration of eradication therapy continues to be controversial. In Europe and other parts of the world, 7-day triple regimes are used, whereas guidelines from the United States recommend 10-14 days of therapy. Antibiotic resistance is a major factor affecting the outcome of eradication therapy. New modified eradication regimes involve substitution of antibiotics used in conjunction with other drugs. The newer generation fluoroquinolones have shown some promise as part of an eradication regimen. Quadruple therapy (bismuth, proton pump inhibitor [PPI] and two antibiotics and sequential treatment [PPI with three antibiotics]) are promising first-line treatments. Novel agents have been tried, but with disappointing results. New drugs and administration forms have been reported but their efficacy needs confirmation.