One-week triple therapy with omeprazole, amoxycillin and clarithromycin for treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection.
BACKGROUND
Multi-drug regimens are generally required to reliably cure H. pylori infection. We previously demonstrated that a 2-week three-times-a-day regimen of amoxycillin and clarithromycin was effective against H. pylori infection.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and side-effects of a 1-week twice-daily dosing schedule for the treatment of H. pylori infection.


METHODS
We studied the efficacy of 1-week of therapy with 20 mg of omeprazole, 1 g of amoxycillin and 250 mg of clarithromycin, all twice daily H. pylori status was determined at entry and 4 or more weeks after completing antimicrobial therapy using histology (Genta stain) and culture.


RESULTS
Thirty-one patients with documented peptic ulcer disease and H. pylori infection were treated. The H. pylori infection was cured in 24 (77%, 95% CI = 58-90%) (intention-to-treat). In a per protocol analysis the cure rate was 23 of 29 patients (79%, 95% CI = 60-92%). One patient took only 43% of the study drugs and another withdrew following development of an anaphylactic reaction to study medication. Mild side-effects were reported by 16% including diarrhoea, headache and altered taste. Compliance averaged 95%. Pretreatment clarithromycin resistance averaged 5% and had not been acquired by any strains post-therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
This combination of omeprazole, amoxycillin and low-dose clarithromycin resulted in a relatively low cure rate even in patients with clarithromycin-sensitive isolates. Large comparative studies will be needed to define the optimal duration, dose and dosing interval if this combination of drugs is to become competitive.
Yousfi
M M
MM
Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
el-Zimaity
H M
HM
Genta
R M
RM
Graham
D Y
DY
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D010406:Penicillins; D000658:Amoxicillin; D017291:Clarithromycin; D009853:Omeprazole