title: Eradication of Helicobacter pylori: an objective assessment of current therapies.
abstract: The purpose of the present review was to determine objectively the optimal treatment for the eradication of H. pylori amongst the currently used regimens. A comprehensive literature search provided a data-base relating to the following treatments: dual therapy with an anti-secretory drug plus either amoxycillin or clarithromycin; standard triple therapy, with or without additional anti-secretory drugs; proton pump inhibitor triple therapy; and H2-receptor antagonist triple therapy. Emphasis was placed on intention-to-treat analyses of eradication rates using all of the available evidence. The criteria used to select the optimal treatment were efficacy (eradication rates), frequency of side-effects, simplicity of the regimen (number of tablets per day and duration of treatment) and cost. The analysis showed that proton pump inhibitor triple therapy (that is, a proton pump inhibitor plus any two of amoxycillin, clarithromycin or a nitroimidazole) was the preferred treatment for the eradication of H. pylori. In particular, the 1-week, low-dose regimen with omeprazole plus clarithromycin plus tinidazole produced the highest eradication rates (> 90%) with the lowest frequency of side-effects and at only modest cost.
authors.affiliation: Scunthorpe General Hospital, Scunthorpe.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Penston
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: McColl
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D018942:Macrolides; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D018942:Macrolides; D009853:Omeprazole