Trends of second-line eradication therapy for Helicobacter pylori in Japan: a multicenter study in the Tokyo metropolitan area

Long-term Response of Helicobacter pylori Antibody Titer After Eradication Treatment in Middle-aged Japanese: JPHC-NEXT Study

BACKGROUND

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is an established causative factor of gastric cancer. Although the expansion of insurance coverage has led to an increase in the number of patients treated for H. pylori, the population impact of eradication treatment for H. pylori has been scarcely investigated. This study aimed to clarify the long-term responses of H. pylori antibody titer after eradication treatment using large scale cross-sectional data from the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study for the Next Generation (JPHC-NEXT Study).

METHODS

A total of 55,282 Japanese participants aged 40 to 74 years residing in 16 areas provided blood samples from 2011 through 2016. From these, treated (n = 6,276) and untreated subjects who were seropositive for H. pylori or had serological atrophy (n = 22,420) formed the study population (n = 28,696). Seropositivity was defined as an anti-H. pylori IgG titer of ≥10 U/mL. Antibody level was compared among subjects according to self-reported treatment history as untreated, and treated for less than 1 year (<1Y), 1 through 5 years (1-5Y), and 6 or more years ago (6Y+).

RESULTS

Median serum antibody titer was 34.0 U/mL, 7.9 U/mL, 4.0 U/mL, and 2.9 U/mL for the untreated, <1Y, 1-5Y, and 6Y+ groups, respectively. While those treated for H. pylori within the previous year had a 76.8% lower antibody titer compared to untreated subjects, approximately 41% of subjects were still seropositive.

CONCLUSION

A significant reduction in H. pylori antibody titer occurs within 1 year after eradication treatment, but that a long period is needed to achieve complete negative conversion.

Establishment of a reference panel of Helicobacter pylori strains for antimicrobial susceptibility testing

BACKGROUND

Eradication treatment for Helicobacter pylori gastritis is covered by national health insurance since 2013 in Japan. However, eradication failure due to the increase of antimicrobial resistance has become a serious problem. The present study aims to establish a reference panel of Japanese H. pylori strains for antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

METHOD

A total of 28 strains were collected from 4 medical facilities in Japan. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests (ASTs) to clarithromycin (CLR), amoxicillin (AMX), and metronidazole (MNZ), were used to select standard reference strains. Complete genome sequences were also determined.

RESULTS

Three H. pylori strains (JSHR3, JSHR6 and JSHR31) were selected as standard reference strains by the Japanese Society for Helicobacter Research (JSHR). The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the antibiotics against these 3 strains by agar dilution method with Brucella-based horse-serum-containing agar medium were as follows: JSHR3 (CLR 16 μg/ml, AMX 0.032 μg/ml and MNZ 4 μg/ml), JSHR6 (CLR 0.016 μg/ml, AMX 0.032 μg/ml and MNZ 4 μg/ml), and JSHR31 (CLR 16 μg/ml, AMX 1 μg/ml and MNZ 64 μg/ml).

CONCLUSIONS

A reference panel of H. pylori JSHR strains was established. The panel consisted of JSHR6, which was antibiotic-susceptible, JSHR3, which was CLR-resistant, and JSHR31, which was multi-resistant. This reference panel will be essential for standardized ASTs before the optimal drugs are selected for eradication treatment.

Randomized controlled study on the effects of triple therapy including vonoprazan or rabeprazole for the second-line treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Inhibition of gastric acid secretion is important for eradicating Helicobacter pylori. Vonoprazan (VPZ) is a strong, long-lasting inhibitor of gastric acid secretion. Studies that examined the effectiveness of VPZ-based triple therapy in second-line treatment have been performed. However, there have been no randomized controlled studies to compare the effect between VPZ-based triple therapy and proton pump inhibitor (PPI)-based triple therapy in second-line treatment, and it is not known which is more effective between VPZ-based and PPI-based therapies. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of second-line triple therapies including VPZ or rabeprazole (RPZ) as the PPI.

METHODS

Eligible patients with H. pylori infection who failed first-line triple therapy were assigned randomly to the VPZ [VPZ40 mg/day, amoxicillin (AMPC) 1500 mg/day, metronidazole (MNZ) 500 mg/day] or RPZ (RPZ20 mg/day, AMPC1500 mg/day, MNZ500 mg/day) group. A ¹³C-urea breath test result of less than 2.5% was considered as successful eradication.

RESULTS

In total, 46 and 41 patients were analyzed as intention to treat (ITT) and per protocol (PP), respectively. Eradication rates in the VPZ and RPZ groups were 73.9% [95% confidence interval (CI) 51.6-89.8%] and 82.6% (95% CI 61.2-95.0%) based on ITT analysis, respectively (p = 0.72). Based on PP analysis, the eradication rates in the VPZ and RPZ groups were 89.5% (95% CI 66.9-98.7%) and 86.4% (95% CI 65.1-97.1%), respectively (p = 1.00). Two patients in the VPZ group and one in the RPZ group discontinued treatment due to side effects (p = 1.00).

CONCLUSION

There were no significant differences in efficacy and safety between second-line therapies including VPZ or RPZ.

Guidelines for the management of Helicobacter pylori infection in Japan: 2016 Revised Edition

BACKGROUND

Since "Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection" was set as the indication in the Japanese Society for Helicobacter Research (JSHR) Guidelines 2009, eradication treatment for H. pylori gastritis is covered under insurance since 2013 in Japan, and the number of H. pylori eradication has rapidly increased. Under such circumstances, JSHR has made the third revision to the "Guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of H. pylori infection" for the first time in 7 years.

METHODS

The Guideline Committee held 10 meetings. Articles published between the establishment of the 2009 Guidelines and March 2016 were reviewed and classified according to the evidence level; the statements were revised on the basis of this review. After inviting public comments, the revised statements were finalized using the Delphi method.

RESULTS

There was no change in the basic policy that H. pylori infectious disease is an indication for eradication. Other diseases presumed to be associated with H. pylori infection were added as indications. Serum pepsinogen level, endoscopic examination, and X-ray examination were added to the diagnostic methods. The effects of 1-week triple therapy consisting of potassium-competitive acid blocker (P-CAB), amoxicillin, and clarithromycin have improved, and high eradication rates can also be expected with proton pump inhibitors (PPI) or P-CAB combined with amoxicillin and metronidazole. If the susceptibility test is not performed, the triple PPI or P-CAB/amoxicillin/metronidazole therapy should be chosen, because the PPI/amoxicillin/metronidazole combination demonstrated a significantly higher eradication rate than PPI/amoxicillin/clarithromycin. In the proposal for gastric cancer prevention, we divided gastric cancer prevention measures by age from adolescent to elderly, who are at an increased gastric cancer risk, and presented measures for gastric cancer prevention primarily based on H. pylori eradication.

CONCLUSION

We expect the revised guidelines to facilitate appropriate interventions for patients with H. pylori infection and accomplish its eradication and prevention of gastric cancer.

Current status of first- and second-line Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy in the metropolitan area: a multicenter study with a large number of patients

BACKGROUND

The environment surrounding Helicobacter pylori eradication treatment is dramatically changing. Recently, vonoprazan, a first-in-class potassium-competitive acid blocker (P-CAB), was introduced onto the market in 2015. The aging of Japan's demographic structure is becoming pronounced. In this study, we examined the trend of the eradication rate of H. pylori in the metropolitan area and examined factors concerning successful eradication.

METHODS

We collected data from 20 hospitals in the Tokyo metropolitan area on patients who received first-line eradication therapy with a proton-pump inhibitor (PPI)/P-CAB, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin for 1 week and second-line eradication therapy with a PPI/P-CAB, amoxicillin, and metronidazole for 1 week from 2013 to 2018. The annual eradication rate and associated factors for successful eradication were analyzed.

RESULTS

We collected data of 4097 and 3572 patients in the first- and second-line eradication therapies, respectively. The eradication rate decreased from 2013 to 2014 and increased again from 2015 to 2018 with the first-line therapy [the eradication rates in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 were 71.8%, 63.7%, 78.5%, 84.6%, 89.7 and 90.1%, respectively, in the per protocol (PP)]. The second-line eradication rates were 90.0%, 82.6%, 88.8%, 87.5%, 91.8% and 90.1% in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively, in PP. Vonoprazan was an independent factor for successful eradication in not only first-line, but also second-line eradication. Age over 75 years was an independent factor for eradication failure in both first- and second-line eradication therapies.

CONCLUSION

The eradication rate improved from 2015 to 2018 with the first-line therapy because of the introduction of vonoprazan in the market. The eradication rates with first- and second-line regimens in elderly patients were lower than those in younger patients.

Seven days triple therapy for eradication of Helicobacter pylori does not alter the disease activity of patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Background/Aims

The influences of Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy on the disease course of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are still unclear. We therefore conducted a multicenter, retrospective cohort study to evaluate the safety of H. pylori eradication therapy for IBD patients.

Methods

IBD patients with H. pylori eradication from 2005 to 2015 (eradication group) and control patients (non-eradication group; 2 paired IBD patients without H. pylori eradication matched with each eradicated patient) were included. IBD exacerbation (increased/additional IBD drug or IBD-associated hospitalization/surgery) and disease improvement based on the physicians’ global assessment were investigated at baseline, and at 2 and 6 months after eradication or observation.

Results

A total of 429 IBD (378 ulcerative colitis, 51 Crohn’s disease) patients, comprising 144 patients in the eradication group and 285 patients in the non-eradication group, were enrolled at 25 institutions. IBD exacerbation was comparable between groups (eradication group: 8.3% at 2 months [odds ratio, 1.76; 95% confidence interval, 0.78–3.92; P=0.170], 11.8% at 6 months [odds ratio, 1.60; 95% confidence interval, 0.81–3.11; P=0.172]). Based on the physicians’ global assessment at 2 months, none of the patients in the eradication group improved, whereas 3.2% of the patients in the non-eradication group improved (P=0.019). Multivariate analysis revealed that active disease at baseline, but not H. pylori eradication, was an independent factor for IBD exacerbation during 2 months’ observation period. The overall eradication rate was 84.0%–comparable to previous reports in non-IBD patients.

Conclusions

H. pylori eradication therapy does not alter the short-term disease activity of IBD.

World trends for H. pylori eradication therapy and gastric cancer prevention strategy by H. pylori test-and-treat

Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis leads to the development of gastric cancer. Kyoto global consensus report on H. pylori gastritis recommended H. pylori eradication therapy to prevent gastric cancer. To manage H. pylori infection, it is important to choose the appropriate regimen considering regional differences in resistance to clarithromycin and metronidazole. Quinolones and rifabutin-containing regimens are useful as third- and fourth-line rescue therapies.

Vonoprazan improves the efficacy of Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy with a regimen consisting of clarithromycin and metronidazole in patients allergic to penicillin

BACKGROUND

Although all Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-positive patients should receive eradication therapy, the therapy is a challenge for patients allergic to penicillin. There have been a few reports on the efficacy of eradication therapy for such patients.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the efficacy of vonoprazan or proton pump inhibitor (PPI)-based 7-day triple therapy in patients allergic to penicillin.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 88 consecutive patients allergic to penicillin who received H. pylori eradication therapy were retrospectively analyzed. Thirty-one patients had a history of failed eradication therapy. Four 7-day regimens were prescribed during the study period: clarithromycin-metronidazole-PPI (13 patients), clarithromycin-metronidazole-vonoprazan (14 patients), metronidazole-sitafloxacin-PPI (44 patients) and metronidazole-sitafloxacin-vonoprazan (17 patients). A ¹³ C-urea breath test was used for confirmation of eradication, and efficacy of eradication was evaluated by "intention-to-treat" analysis and "per-protocol" analysis.

RESULTS

Intention-to-treat and per-protocol eradication rates were 46.2%/54.6% for patients who received clarithromycin-metronidazole-PPI, 92.9/92.9% for patients who received clarithromycin-metronidazole-vonoprazan, 100/100% for patients who received metronidazole-sitafloxacin-PPI and 88.2/93.8% for patients who received metronidazole-sitafloxacin-vonoprazan. For first eradication, vonoprazan significantly raised the intention-to-treat efficacy of the triple therapy including clarithromycin-metronidazole (vonoprazan: 92.9%, PPI: 46.2%, P=.0128). A 7-day regimen consisting of metronidazole and sitafloxacin was effective for patients allergic to penicillin with or without past failure of eradication.

CONCLUSION

For first eradication in patients allergic to penicillin, a 7-day triple therapy consisting of clarithromycin, metronidazole and vonoprazan could be a candidate eradication regimen.

Antibiotic resistance and gyrA mutation affect the efficacy of 10-day sitafloxacin-metronidazole-esomeprazole therapy for Helicobacter pylori in penicillin allergic patients

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication regimen has not been standardized for patients with penicillin allergy. We investigated the association between the efficacy of a 10-day sitafloxacin, metronidazole, and esomeprazole triple regimen and antibiotic resistance, in patients with penicillin allergy.

METHODS

Penicillin-allergic patients infected with H. pylori were enrolled between March 2014 and November 2015. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of sitafloxacin and metronidazole, and the gyrA mutation status of the H. pylori strains were determined before treatment. The cut-off points for antimicrobial resistance were defined as 8.0 µg/ml for metronidazole and 0.12 µg/ml for sitafloxacin. The patients received the triple therapy (20 mg esomeprazole, bid; 250 mg metronidazole, bid; and 100 mg sitafloxacin, bid) for 10 days. Successful eradication was evaluated using the [¹³C] urea breath test or the H. pylori stool antigen test.

RESULTS

Fifty-seven patients were analyzed, and the overall eradication rate was 89.5%. The eradication rate in cases of double antibiotic resistance to metronidazole and sitafloxacin was 40.0%, whereas for other combinations of resistance, this was above 90.0%. Finally, the eradication rate of gyrA mutation-negative strains was 96.2%, whereas for gyrA mutation-positive strains, it was 83.9%. Adverse events were reported in 31.6% of cases, all of which were mild and tolerable.

CONCLUSION

Ten days of sitafloxacin and metronidazole triple therapy was safe and highly effective in eradicating H. pylori in penicillin-allergic patients. Double resistance to metronidazole and sitafloxacin was an important predicting factor for eradication failure. However, 10 days of the sitafloxacin and metronidazole triple therapy was highly effective if the strain was susceptible to either sitafloxacin or metronidazole.

Management of Helicobacter pylori infections

BACKGROUND

Infection with Helicobacter pylori is associated with severe digestive diseases including chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and gastric cancer. Successful eradication of this common gastric pathogen in individual patients is known to prevent the occurrence of peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer.

DISCUSSION

With half of the world's population being infected with H, pylori and only few antibiotics result in an effective eradication, a successful antibiotic driven worldwide eradication program seems unlikely. In addition, H. pylori eradication is not always beneficial as it has been described that eradication can be associated with an increased frequency of other disorders such as pediatric asthma, inflammatory bowel diseases and Barrett's Esophagus. We have to accept that eradication of this infection is a two-edged sword that is both useful and harmful and we should therefore focus our H. pylori eradication policy toward selectively identify and destroy only the virulent strains.

CONCLUSION

In order to still be able to effectively treat H. pylori infections in the future we need an alternative diagnostic/treatment algorithm. This would involve a shift towards more precise and enhanced disease predicting diagnosis that tries to identify patients with chance of developing severe diseases such as gastric cancer, rather than the current regime that is geared towards find and destroy all H. pylori.

Efficacy of 10-day Sitafloxacin-Containing Third-Line Rescue Therapies for Helicobacter pylori Strains Containing the gyrA Mutation

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Sitafloxacin-containing Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy is a promising third-line therapeutic approach, but there is no previous studies between gyrA mutation status of H. pylori strains and the efficacy of 10-day sitafloxacin-containing regimens. Here, we assessed the efficacy of 2 different 10-day sitafloxacin-containing rescue regimens.

METHODS

Patients who failed first- and second-line eradication therapies were enrolled. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of sitafloxacin, amoxicillin, and metronidazole and the gyrA mutation status of the H. pylori strains were determined before treatment. The patients were randomized to receive a 10-day triple therapy containing either esomeprazole (20 mg, b.i.d.), amoxicillin (500 mg, q.i.d.), and sitafloxacin (100 mg, b.i.d.) (EAS regimen) or esomeprazole (20 mg, b.i.d.), metronidazole (250 mg, b.i.d.), and sitafloxacin (100 mg, b.i.d.) (EMS regimen). Eradication rates were evaluated by the [13C] urea breath test or the H. pylori stool antigen test.

RESULTS

All patients with gyrA mutation-negative strains (24 in EAS and 16 in EMS) showed successful eradication, irrespective of the regimen they received. In patients with gyrA mutation-positive strains, we found eradication rates of 70.3% (26/37) and 66.7% (26/39) in the EAS and EMS groups in per-protocol population, respectively (p = .81). According to logistic regression analyses, the MICs of sitafloxacin, which were strongly associated with gyrA mutation status, were independently associated with successful eradication in both groups. This study was registered in the UMIN Clinical Trials Registry as UMIN000006483.

CONCLUSION

There is no significant difference in the eradication rates between EAS and EMS, regardless of the gyrA mutation status of the H. pylori strains. GyrA mutation status was an important factor in predicting successful eradication with sitafloxacin-containing rescue therapies.

Rifabutin-based 10-day and 14-day triple therapy as a third-line and fourth-line regimen for Helicobacter pylori eradication: A pilot study

BACKGROUND AND AIM

This prospective randomized study was designed to assess the efficacy of 10-day and 14-day rifabutin-based triple therapy as a third- or fourth-line rescue therapy.

METHODS

Patients who failed first- and second-line eradication therapy were enrolled. H. pylori was isolated from gastric biopsy specimens and the rpoB mutation status, a factor of resistance to rifamycins, and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of rifabutin and amoxicillin were determined. Enrolled patients were randomly assigned to receive 10-day or 14-day eradication therapy with esomeprazole (20 mg, 4 times a day (q.i.d.)), amoxicillin (500 mg, q.i.d.), and rifabutin (300 mg, once a day (q.d.s.)). Poor compliance was defined as intake of <80% of study drugs. Successful H. pylori eradication was confirmed using a [13C] urea breath test or a stool antigen test, 12 weeks after the end of therapy.

RESULTS

Twelve patients were assigned to the 10-day group, and 17, to the 14-day group. Intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses of eradication rates were 83.3% and 81.8% for the 10-day group and 94.1% and 91.7% for the 14-day group, respectively. All patients with rpoB mutation-positive strains (n = 3) showed successful eradication, irrespective of the regimen received. Therapy was stopped due to adverse events in 8.3% and 29.3% of patients in the 10-day and 14-day groups, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Both the 10-day and 14-day therapies were effective as rescue regimens. In particular, the 14-day therapy resulted in successful eradication in over 90% of patients, but the 10-day treatment may be enough to obtain a successful eradication rate, considering the tolerability of therapy.

Clarithromycin Versus Metronidazole as First-line Helicobacter pylori Eradication: A Multicenter, Prospective, Randomized Controlled Study in Japan

BACKGROUND

Helicobacter pylori eradication rates achieved with a first-line regimen of clarithromycin (CLR) combined with amoxicillin (AMX) and a proton pump inhibitor have recently fallen to ≤80% because of the increasing incidence of CLR resistance in Japan. This randomized multicenter trial aimed to compare the eradication success of 2 first-line triple therapy regimens: rabeprazole, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin (RAC) versus rabeprazole, amoxicillin, and metronidazole (RAM).

METHODS

A total of 124 consecutive patients infected with H. pylori were randomized into one of two 7-day therapeutic regimens: RAC (n=60) or RAM (n=64). Eradication was confirmed by the C-urea breath test. Adverse effects were also assessed.

RESULTS

Intention-to-treat and per protocol H. pylori eradication rates were 73.3%/77.2% in the RAC group and 90.6%/93.5% in the RAM group. The eradication rate of RAM therapy was significantly higher than that of RAC therapy. CLR, metronidazole, and AMX resistance was found in 36.2%, 2.1%, and 0% of patients, respectively. In addition, no relevant differences in adverse effects were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Metronidazole-based therapy (RAM) was superior to standard CLR-based therapy (RAC) for first-line H. pylori eradication. This reflects the progressive increase in CLR resistance observed in Japan.

Efficacy of Levofloxacin Based Triple and High-Dose PPI-Amoxicillin Dual Eradication Therapy for Helicobacter pylori after Failures of First- and Second-Line Therapies

Objectives. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the eradication rate of Helicobacter pylori as the third-line triple therapy with rabeprazole (RPZ) + amoxicillin (AMPC) + levofloxacin (LVFX) and high-dose RPZ + AMPC. Methods. 51 patients who failed Japanese first-line (proton pump inhibitor (PPI) + AMPC + clarithromycin) and second-line (PPI + AMPC + metronidazole) eradication therapy were randomly assigned at a 1 : 1 ratio to one of the following third-line eradication groups: (1) RAL group: RPZ 10 mg (b.i.d.), AMPC 750 mg (b.i.d.), and LVFX 500 mg (o.d.) for 10 days; (2) RA group: RPZ 10 mg (q.i.d.) and AMPC 500 mg (q.i.d.) for 14 days. Patients who failed to respond to third-line eradication therapy received salvage therapy. Results. The rates of eradication success, based on intention to treat (ITT) analysis, were 45.8% in the RAL group and 40.7% in the RA group. The overall eradication rates were 73.9% in the RAL group and 64.0% in the RA group. There was no significant difference between the two groups. Conclusions. The third-line triple therapy with RPZ, AMPC, and LVFX was as effective as that with high-dose RPZ and AMPC.

Treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection 2014

This review summarizes important studies regarding H.pylori therapy published from April 2013 to April 2014. The main themes that emerge are assessing the efficacy of standard triple therapy, as well as exploring new first-line treatments, predominantly optimized triple therapies and non-bismuth quadruple schemes. Regarding newer non-bismuth quadruple regimens, the compliance and tolerance seem to be similar for sequential and concomitant regimens. Notably, no study yet has demonstrated a clear statistical superiority for either, and a systematic review and meta-analysis may be warranted. Other studies examined the role of levofloxacin and bismuth based therapies in H. pylori eradication. The efficacy of bismuth as a second-line after sequential therapy was particularly noteworthy. Levofloxacin-based therapies also appear to be useful and versatile as part of different antibiotic combinations and in first-, second-, and third-line therapies. The emerging problem of quinolone resistance remains a worry. Individualized therapy, based on factors such as antimicrobial information, resistance data, and CYP2C19 metabolism, may well be the most notable future trend to emerge this year.

Comparative study of esomeprazole and lansoprazole in triple therapy for eradication of Helicobacter pylori in Japan

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of esomeprazole-based triple therapy compared with lansoprazole therapy as first-line eradication therapy for patients with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in usual post-marketing use in Japan, where the clarithromycin (CAM) resistance rate is 30%.

METHODS: For this multicenter, randomized, open-label, non-inferiority trial, we recruited patients (≥ 20 years of age) with H. pylori infection from 20 hospitals in Japan. We randomly allocated patients to esomeprazole therapy (esomeprazole 20 mg, CAM 400 mg, amoxicillin (AC) 750 mg for the first 7 d, with all drugs given twice daily) or lansoprazole therapy (lansoprazole 30 mg, CAM 400 mg, AC 750 mg for the first 7 d, with all drugs given twice daily) using a minimization method with age, sex, and institution as adjustment factors. Our primary outcome was the eradication rate by intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analyses. H. pylori eradication was confirmed by a urea breath test from 4 to 8 wk after cessation of therapy.

RESULTS: ITT analysis revealed the eradication rates of 69.4% (95%CI: 61.2%-76.6%) for esomeprazole therapy and 73.9% (95%CI: 65.9%-80.6%) for lansoprazole therapy (P = 0.4982). PP analysis showed eradication rate of 76.9% (95%CI: 68.6%-83.5%) for esomeprazole therapy and 79.8% (95%CI: 71.9%-86.0%) for lansoprazole therapy (P = 0.6423). There were no differences in adverse effects between the two therapies.

CONCLUSION: Esomeprazole showed non-inferiority and safety in a 7 day-triple therapy for eradication of H. pylori compared with lansoprazole.

Current recommendations for Helicobacter pylori therapies in a world of evolving resistance

Occurrence of resistance, especially to clarithromycin, renders the standard triple therapy used to cure Helicobacter pylori infection ineffective. This review presents the bacteriological and pharmacological basis for H. pylori therapy and the current recommendations. The third-line treatment must be based on clarithromycin susceptibility testing. If the bacteria are still susceptible, failure may come from problems of compliance, hyperacidity or high bacterial load which can be overcome. If the bacteria are resistant, different regimens must be considered, including bismuth and non-bismuth-based quadruple therapies (sequential or concomitant), as well as triple therapies where amoxicillin is administered several times a day to obtain an optimal concentration at the gastric mucosal level. The treatments are becoming more and more complex and ecologically unsatisfactory, waiting for new agents or vaccines.