Addition of metronidazole to rabeprazole-amoxicillin-clarithromycin regimen for Helicobacter pylori infection provides an excellent cure rate with five-day therapy.
BACKGROUND
New triple therapy for eradication of Helicobacter pylori based on a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) provides a cure rate of approximately 90% with few adverse effects. Recently, a PPI-based quadruple therapy, which consists of a PPI plus bismuth-based triple therapy for 7 days, has been studied, and a sufficient eradication rate has been achieved. However, a shorter duration results in improved compliance. In this study, newly developed short-term, simple twice-daily quadruple therapy consisting of rabeprazole, amoxicillin, clarithromycin, and metronidazole (RACM) was compared with a PPI-based triple-therapy regimen for eradication of H. pylori.


METHODS
This study was designed as a randomized open, prospective single-center study. Of a total of 105 H. pylori-positive patients, 55 received the RACM regimen for 5 days (rabeprazole, 10 mg bid; amoxicillin, 750 mg bid; clarithromycin, 200 mg bid; and metronidazole, 250 mg bid), and 50 received the RAC regimen for 5 days (rabeprazole, 10 mg bid; amoxicillin, 750 mg bid; and clarithromycin, 200 mg bid). Cure of the infection was assessed by HpSA (H. pylori stool antigen immunoassay) 1 month after completion of therapy.


RESULTS
The rates of eradication of H. pylori by RACM versus RAC were 94.5% (95% CI, 85-99) versus 80.0% (95% CI, 66-90) by intention-to-treat analysis; 98.1% (95% CI, 90-100) versus 87.0% (95% CI, 74-95) by all-patients-treated analysis; and 98.1% (95% CI, 90-100) versus 86.7% (95% CI, 73-95) by per-protocol analysis. No major adverse effects were reported, and 98.0% of patients reported complete compliance.


CONCLUSIONS
The simple twice-daily and short-term quadruple regimen for only 5 days provided an excellent eradication rate. Compliance with the regimen was high, and serious adverse effects were few. Therefore, the RACM regimen can be considered as safe and effective.
Nagahara
A
A
Department of Gastroenterology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Miwa
H
H
Ogawa
K
K
Kurosawa
A
A
Ohkura
R
R
Iida
N
N
Sato
N
N
D053799:2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D010406:Penicillins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D064750:Rabeprazole; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D053799:2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D010406:Penicillins; D008795:Metronidazole; D064750:Rabeprazole; D000658:Amoxicillin; D017291:Clarithromycin; D009853:Omeprazole