Comparison of sequential therapy and amoxicillin/tetracycline containing bismuth quadruple therapy for the first-line eradication of Helicobacter pylori: a prospective, multi-center, randomized clinical trial

The Comparison of the Clinical Efficacy and Drug Tissue Distribution of Furazolidone and Tetracycline-quadruple Therapy in Helicobacter pylori Eradication: A Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE

Helicobacter pylori (H. Pylori) is considered a main causative organism of gastric ulcers, gastric cancer and duodenal ulcers. The current treatment relies on a combination of antimicrobial agents and acid suppressant agents, but the eradication effect is not satisfactory. To clarify the concentration of antibiotics at the lesion site, we investigate the clinical efficacy and drug tissue distribution of the combination therapy of furazolidone and tetracycline in eradicating H. Pylori.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients with H. pylori infection (n = 60) were randomized to either group A or B. Bismuth potassium citrate capsules 220 mg, omeprazole enteric-coated capsules 20 mg, amoxicillin capsules 1000 mg, each twice per day, and furazolidone tablets 500 mg were administered to group A. Group B was treated with bismuth potassium citrate capsules 220 mg, omeprazole enteric-coated capsules 20 mg, amoxicillin capsules 1000 mg, and tetracycline tablets 500 mg each twice per day for 2 weeks. The serum and gastric juice, gastric antrum, gastric horn, and gastric body samples were taken under a gastroscope on the 14th day. The antimicrobial concentrations in serum and tissue samples were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography.

RESULTS

In the negative group of furazolidone, the concentrations of gastric antrum, gastric body, and gastric angle were significantly higher than those in the positive group (P = 0.017, 0.015, and 0.028). The concentrations of furazolidone in gastric fluid, gastric antrum, gastric angle, and gastric body were ∼421 times, 82 times, 17 times, and 51 times higher than those in serum, respectively. The concentrations of tetracycline in the serum and gastric angle of the tetracycline negative group were significantly higher than those in the positive group (P = 0.036 and 0.042), and the tetracycline concentrations in the gastric horn and gastric body were about 4 and 6 times higher than those in the serum, respectively. The concentration of amoxicillin in group B was higher than that in group A, especially in serum, gastric juice, gastric angle, and gastric body (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Furazolidone is mainly concentrated and sequentially distributed in gastric juice, gastric antrum, and gastric body tissue, and tetracycline is mainly distributed in serum, gastric angle, and gastric body, whereas amoxicillin is mainly distributed in serum, gastric juice, gastric angle, and gastric body. Improving the concentration and tissue distribution of antibacterial drugs in the human gastric mucosa is the key to ensuring the ideal eradication rate of quadruple therapy.

Comparison of the efficacies of triple, quadruple and sequential antibiotic therapy in eradicating Helicobacter pylori infection: A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND AND AIM

There is regional variation in the eradication rates of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) regimens depending on the local antibiotic resistance patterns. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacies of triple, quadruple and sequential antibiotic therapy in eradicating H. pylori infection.

METHODS

A total of 296 H. pylori-positive patients were randomized to receive one of the three regimens (triple, quadruple or sequential antibiotic therapy) and eradication rate was assessed by H. pylori stool antigen test.

RESULTS

The eradication rates of standard triple therapy, sequential therapy and quadruple therapy were 93%, 92.9% and 96.4%, respectively (p = 0.57).

CONCLUSION

Fourteen days of standard triple therapy, 14 days of bismuth-based quadruple therapy and 10 days of sequential therapy are equally efficacious in eradicating H. pylori and all regimens have optimum H. pylori eradication rates.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: CTRI/2020/04/024929.

Multiple Bismuth Quadruple Therapy Containing Tetracyclines Combined with Other Antibiotics and Helicobacter pylori Eradication Therapy

Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection is closely associated with the development of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, and gastric cancer. However, the resistance rate of H. pylori strains to antibiotics such as clarithromycin, metronidazole, and levofloxacin has increased significantly, resulting in a significant decrease in the eradication efficacy of commonly used regimens. Tetracycline has received the attention of domestic and foreign scholars because of its low resistance. The purpose of this review is to provide an update on the tetracycline-containing bismuth quadruple eradication therapy for H. pylori infection and review the efficacy and safety of the regimens, hoping to provide guidance for clinical practice.

Can Saccharomyces boulardii treat and eradicate Helicobacter pylori among children instead of bismuth?

Aim: The objective of this study is to compare the use of Saccharomyces boulardii (S. boulardii) in eradicating Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in children as an alternative to bismuth, which has a limited scope of application due to its side effects. Material and Method: Included in the study were 220 pediatric patients with symptomatic H. pylori gastritis. The patients were randomized into three treatment groups. Patients who received bismuth or S. boulardii in addition to the standard triple therapy for 14 days were compared with the control group who received only triple therapy. Results: Analysis of the bismuth, S. boulardii, and control groups’ treatment success showed that the H. pylori eradication rate was highest among study participants who received bismuth (95.2%), followed by patients who received S. boulardii (92.4%). The most frequent side effects were observed in the patient group that received bismuth (17.5%). Conclusion: Although bismuth continues to be successful in eradicating H. pylori, alternative treatment protocols are necessary because of its side effects and limited use in pediatric patients. S. boulardii can be administered instead when bismuth can not serve as alternative due to its side effects.

Comparative Effectiveness of Multiple Different First-Line Treatment Regimens for Helicobacter pylori Infection: A Network Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

A number of double, triple, and quadruple therapies have been proposed as first-line empiric treatments for Helicobacter pylori infection. However, knowledge of their worldwide and regional comparative efficacy is lacking. We examined the comparative effectiveness of all empirically used first-line regimens tested against standard triple treatment using a network meta-analysis of published randomized controlled trials.

METHODS

Data extracted from eligible randomized controlled trials were entered into a Bayesian network meta-analysis to investigate the comparative efficacy of H pylori infection empiric first-line regimens and to explore their effectiveness rank order. The ranking probability for each regimen was evaluated by means of surfaces under cumulative ranking values.

RESULTS

Sixty-eight eligible randomized controlled trials were included, giving a total of 92 paired comparisons with 22,975 patients randomized to 8 first-line regimens. The overall results showed that only vonoprazan triple therapy and reverse hybrid therapy achieved cure rates of >90%. Levofloxacin triple therapy performed best in Western countries (eradication rate 88.5%). The comparative effectiveness ranking showed that vonoprazan triple therapy had the best results, whereas standard triple therapy was the least efficacious regimen (surfaces under cumulative ranking 92.4% vs 4.7% respectively; odds ratio, 3.80; 95% credible interval, 1.62-8.94).

CONCLUSIONS

For first-line empiric treatment of H pylori infection, vonoprazan triple therapy and reverse hybrid therapy achieved high eradication rates of >90%. Levofloxacin triple therapy achieved the highest eradication rates in Western countries. Standard triple therapy was the least efficacious regimen in this network meta-analysis.

Efficacy of a novel sequential treatment regimen containing bismuth for Helicobacter pylori eradication in Turkish children

BACKGROUND

Eradication rates of Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) with standard triple therapy are gradually decreasing all over the world, including in children, due to the development of strains resistant to antimicrobials. Sequential therapy can be used as an alternative method to increase eradication rates.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 75 patients ≥ 8 years of age with H pylori gastritis were included in the study. According to Rome IV criteria, 38 patients had functional abdominal pain and dyspepsia, and 37 patients had alarm findings suggesting organic disease. Patients were treated with a novel sequential therapy consisting of the proton pump inhibitor (PPI)-lansoprazole (1 mg/kg/day, maximum 30 mg daily), amoxicillin (50 mg/kg/d in two doses, maximum 2 × 1000 mg) for 7 days followed by PPI-lansoprazole (1 mg/kg/d, maximum 30 mg daily), metronidazole (20 mg/kg/day in two doses, maximum 2 x 500 mg), tetracycline (50 mg/kg/d divided into four equal doses, maximum 4 x 500 mg), and bismuth subsalicylate (262 mg QID in patients ≤ 10 years of age, 524 mg QID in patients > 10 years of age in days 8-14). Eradication status was evaluated by H pylori stool antigen test 8 weeks after the completion of treatment.

RESULTS

The mean age of the patients was 15.1 ± 2.4 years and 51 (68%) were female. No patient discontinued therapy due to side effects. All patients had antral gastritis (76.0%) or pangastritis (24.0%). The peptic ulcer rate was 6.6%. Eradication therapy was given to all patients with or without peptic ulcer. H pylori eradication was achieved in 69 (92.0%) patients and symptoms improved in 61 of those eradicated.

CONCLUSIONS

As a first-line treatment for H pylori eradication in children, administering a novel sequential therapy including bismuth for 14 days provides a high rate of eradication.

Tailored eradication vs empirical bismuth-containing quadruple therapy for first-line Helicobacter pylori eradication: A comparative, open trial

BACKGROUND

Few studies have compared the efficacy and safety profile of a tailored eradication (TR) strategy based on the presence of a 23S ribosomal RNA point mutation with those of empirical bismuth-based quadruple therapy (EBQT) for first-line eradication of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in Korean patients.

AIM

To compare the efficacy and safety of a TR strategy and those of EBQT regimen as first-line eradication therapy for H. pylori.

METHODS

This is an open-label, comparative study in which we prospectively enrolled patients over 18 years of age with H. pylori infection and retrospectively reviewed their data. H. pylori-positive patients diagnosed by rapid urease test, Giemsa staining, or dual priming oligonucleotide polymerase chain reaction (DPO-PCR) were enrolled from May 2016 to September 2018 at Gil Medical Center. Patients with H. pylori infection received either a TR regimen or the EBQT regimen. In the tailored therapy group that underwent DPO-PCR testing, patients with A2142G and/or A2143G point mutations were treated with a bismuth-containing quadruple regimen. The eradication rate, patient-reported side effect rate, and H. pylori eradication success rate were evaluated and compared between the groups.

RESULTS

A total of 150 patients were assigned to the TR (n = 50) or EBQT group (n = 100). The first-line eradication rate of H. pylori did not differ between the groups (96.0% vs 95.7%, P = 0.9). The rate of eradication-related side effects for TR was 12.0%, which differed significantly from that of EBQT (43.0%) for first-line treatment (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

DPO-PCR-based TR for H. pylori eradication may be equally efficacious, with less treatment-related complications, compared to EBQT in Korea, where clarithromycin resistance is high.

Two-week bismuth-containing quadruple therapy and concomitant therapy are effective first-line treatments for Helicobacter pylori eradication: A prospective open-label randomized trial

BACKGROUND

Increasing levels of antibiotic resistance have reduced the Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication rates afforded by the standard triple therapy. Thus, 2-wk first-line four-drug regimens must be considered.

AIM

To analyze the eradication rates of modified bismuth-containing quadruple therapy (mBCQT) and concomitant therapy (CT), the associated adverse events, and compliance.

METHODS

Patients infected with H. pylori were prospectively randomized to receive mBCQT or CT for 2 wk. mBCQT featured a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), bismuth, metronidazole, and tetracycline, taken twice daily. CT included a PPI, clarithromycin, metronidazole, and amoxicillin, taken twice daily. The ¹³C-urea breath test was performed no earlier than 4 wk after therapy concluded to confirm eradication. If either the histological or rapid urease test was positive, H. pylori infection was diagnosed.

RESULTS

The demographic characteristics of 68 patients who received mBCQT and 68 who received CT did not differ significantly. On intention-to-treat analysis, the eradication rate was 88.2% (60/68) in the mBCQT group and 79.4% (54/68) in the CT group (P = 0.162). By per-protocol analysis, the respective eradication rates were 98.4% (60/61) and 93.1% (54/58) (P = 0.199). More CT than mBCQT patients experienced adverse events [33.8% (23/68) mBCQT vs 51.5% (35/58) CT patients, respectively, P = 0.037]. All patients showed good compliance [85.3% (58/68) mBCQT vs 82.4% (56/68) CT patients, P = 0.641].

CONCLUSION

The H. pylori eradication rates of the 2-wk mBCQT and CT regimens are high. Most patients show good compliance, and more CT than mBCQT patients experience adverse events.

Primary and secondary antibiotic resistance of Helicobacter pylori in Korea from 2003 to 2018

BACKGROUND

Antimicrobial resistance of Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) affects the efficacy of eradication therapy. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of primary and secondary resistance of H pylori isolates to antibiotics in Korea.

METHODS

The present study was performed from 2003 to 2018. Primary resistance was evaluated in 591 patients without any history of eradication and secondary resistance in 149 patients from whom Helicobacter pylori was cultured after failure of eradication. A minimal inhibitory concentration test was performed for amoxicillin, clarithromycin, metronidazole, tetracycline, levofloxacin, and rifabutin using the agar dilution method.

RESULTS

An increase in the primary resistance rate was found in clarithromycin (P < .001), metronidazole (P < .001), and both levofloxacin (P < .001) during the study period. The primary resistance rates of amoxicillin and tetracycline were low and stable during the study period. The secondary resistance rate significantly increased in metronidazole and levofloxacin (P = .022 and .039, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The primary and secondary resistance rates of clarithromycin, metronidazole, and levofloxacin for Helicobacter pylori in Korea were high and increased over time. However, the primary and secondary resistance rates of amoxicillin and tetracycline were low and stable over time. These results will help in selecting effective eradication regimens of H pylori in Korea in the future.

[Eradication Rates of 10-day Sequential Therapy for Helicobacter pylori: Results of an 8-year Prospective Study Conducted at a Tertiary Korean Hospital]

Background/Aims

The Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication rate of standard triple therapy is unsatisfactory in Korea, and sequential therapy (SQT) has been suggested to be a practical first-line alternative regimen. The aim of this prospective study was to document changes in annual eradication rates of SQT.

Methods

A total of 983 H. pylori-positive subjects were enrolled from 2010 to 2018 and their data were subjected to intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analysis. All subjects received 10-day sequential therapy consisting of 40 mg esomeprazole and 1 g amoxicillin b.i.d for 5 days followed by 40 mg esomeprazole b.i.d, 500 mg clarithromycin b.i.d and 500 mg metronidazole t.i.d for 5 days. The ¹³C-urea breath test, rapid urease test (CLO test^®), and histology were used to confirm eradication. Compliance and side effects were also investigated.

Results

ITT and PP eradication rates of SQT were 69.9% (687 of 983) and 87.1% (657 of 754), respectively. The annual eradication rate of ITT remained consistent over the 8-year study period (p for trend=0.167), whereas PP analysis showed the eradication rate increased (p for trend=0.042). The overall adverse event rate for SQT was 41.7% (410 subjects).

Conclusions

Despite high antibiotic resistance rates in Korea, the eradication rate of SQT did not decrease over the 8-year study period.

Treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection 2017

This review summarizes important studies regarding Helicobacter pylori therapy published from April 2016 to April 2017. The main themes that emerge involve studies assessing the efficacy of bismuth and nonbismuth quadruple regimens. While in recent years, much of the emphasis on the use of bismuth has focussed on its utility in a second-line setting, an increasing number of studies this year have shown excellent efficacy in first-line therapy. The efficacy of bismuth as a second-line after sequential and concomitant therapy was particularly noteworthy. Antibiotic resistance was more intensely studied this year than for a long time, and definite trends are presented regarding an increase in resistance, including the fact that clarithromycin resistance in particular is now at a level where the continued use of clarithromycin triple therapy first-line as a mainstream treatment is not recommended. Another exciting trend to emerge this year is the utility of vonoprazan as an alternative to PPI therapy, especially in resistant and difficult-to-treat groups.

Efficacy of Helicobacter pylori eradication therapies in Korea: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The efficacy of Helicobacter pylori eradication regimens may depend on the country where the studies were performed because of the difference in antibiotic resistance. We aimed to analyze the efficacy of H. pylori eradication regimens in Korea where clarithromycin resistance rate is high.

METHODS

We searched for all relevant randomized controlled trials published until November 2016 that investigated the efficacy of H. pylori eradication therapies in Korea. A network meta-analysis was performed to calculate the direct and indirect estimates of efficacy among the eradication regimens.

RESULTS

Forty-three studies were identified through a systematic review, of which 34 studies, published since 2005, were included in the meta-analysis. Among 21 included regimens, quinolone-containing sequential therapy for 14 days (ST-Q-14) showed the highest eradication rate (91.4% [95% confidence interval [CI], 86.9%-94.4%] in the intention-to-treat [ITT] analysis). The eradication rate of the conventional triple therapy for 7 days, standard sequential therapy for 10 days, hybrid therapy for 10-14 days, and concomitant therapy for 10-14 days was 71.1% (95% CI, 68.3%-73.7%), 76.2% (95% CI, 72.8%-79.3%), 79.4% (95% CI, 75.5%-82.8%), and 78.3% (95% CI, 75.3%-80.9%), respectively, in the ITT analysis. In the network meta-analysis, ST-Q-14 showed a better comparative efficacy than the conventional triple therapy, standard sequential therapy, hybrid therapy, and concomitant therapy. In addition, tolerability of ST-Q-14 was comparable to those regimens.

CONCLUSION

In Korea, ST-Q-14 showed the highest efficacy in terms of eradication and a comparable tolerability, compared to the results reported for the conventional triple therapy, standard sequential therapy, hybrid therapy, and concomitant therapy.

Triple therapy versus sequential therapy for the first-line Helicobacter pylori eradication

Background

The eradication rate of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) with triple therapy which was considered as standard first-line treatment has decreased to 70–85%. The aim of this study is to compare 7-day triple therapy versus 10-day sequential therapy as the first line treatment.

Methods

Data of 1240 H. pylori positive patients treated with triple therapy or sequential therapy from January 2013 to December 2015 were analyzed retrospectively. The patients who had undertaken previous H. pylori eradication therapy or gastric surgery were excluded.

Results

There were 872 (74.3%) patients in the triple therapy group, and 302 (25.7%) patients in the sequential therapy group. There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding age, residence, comorbidities or drug compliance, but several differences were noted in endoscopic characteristics and indication for the treatment. The eradication rate of H. pylori by intention to treat analysis was 64.3% in the triple therapy group, and 81.9% in the sequential therapy group (P = 0.001). In per protocol analysis, H. pylori eradication rate in the triple therapy and sequential therapy group was 81.9 and 90.3%, respectively (P = 0.002). There was no significant difference in overall adverse events between the two groups (P = 0.706). For the rescue therapy, bismuth-containing quadruple therapy showed comparable treatment efficacy after sequential therapy, as following triple therapy.

Conclusions

The eradication rate of triple therapy was below the recommended threshold. Sequential therapy could be effective and tolerable candidate for the first-line H. pylori eradication therapy.