Evaluation of a new ultrashort triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori disease.
BACKGROUND
1-week proton pump inhibitor-based triple therapies are considered the most effective and convenient drug combinations for curing Helicobacter pylori infection. Short therapies, lasting less than 1 week have been investigated rarely.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy and tolerability of a 3-day lansoprazole triple therapy after 1 day of lansoprazole pre-treatment.


METHODS
Seventy H. pylori-positive (rapid urease test and histology) patients received LAzT3 regimen (lanzoprazole 30 mg b.d. and azithromycin 500 mg o.m. for 3 days; tinidazole 2000 mg o.m. on day 1 and 1000 mg o.m. on days 2-3) after 1 day of lansoprazole pretreatment. Patients with active ulcer received lansoprazole 30 mg o.m. for an additional 4 weeks. Follow-up gastroscopy was carried out 4-6 weeks after completion of therapy. Eradication was defined as negative histology and rapid urease test.


RESULTS
Four patients failed to attend the follow-up endoscopy. One patient complained of minor side-effects. H. pylori was eradicated in 57 of 66 patients suitable for evaluation, with a per-protocol cure rate of 86.3% (95%CI: 76-94%), and an intention-to-treat cure rate of 81.4% (95%CI: 70-90%).


CONCLUSIONS
This new ultrashort triple therapy including lansoprazole, azithromycin and tinidazole seems to be effective in eradicating H. pylori. It is safe and well-tolerated, and may be taken into consideration as a valid alternative to the better known and widely used 1-week proton pump inhibitor-based triple therapies.
Trevisani
L
L
Medical Department, S. Anna Hospital, Ferrara, Italy.
Sartori
S
S
Galvani
F
F
Ruina
M
M
Caselli
M
M
Verdianelli
G
G
Abbasciano
V
V
D053799:2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D064747:Lansoprazole; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019338:Polypharmacy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014011:Tinidazole / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
D053799:2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D014011:Tinidazole; D064747:Lansoprazole; D017963:Azithromycin; D009853:Omeprazole