title: Levofloxacin based regimens for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A 7 day treatment scheme based on rabeprazole/levofloxacin/amoxycillin or tinidazole achieved an eradication rate over 90%. However, the combination of drugs and duration of treatment for the correct use of levofloxacin in the eradication of are still unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacy and tolerability of rabeprazole/levofloxacin based dual therapies given for 5, 7 or 10 days with rabeprazole/levofloxacin/amoxycillin triple therapy for 7 days.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and sixty patients with infection documented by the C-urea breath test and histology were included in this prospective, open label study. Subjects were randomized in four groups: (1) levofloxacin (500 mg o.d.), amoxycillin (1 g b.d.) and rabeprazole (20 mg o.d.) for 7 days; (2) levofloxacin (500 mg o.d.) and rabeprazole (20 mg o.d.) for 5 days; (3) levofloxacin (500 mg o.d.) and rabeprazole (20 mg o.d.) for 7 days; and (4) levofloxacin (500 mg o.d.) and rabeprazole (20 mg o.d.) for 10 days. Six weeks after the end of therapy status was checked by using the C-urea breath test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients completed the therapeutic regimens. The eradication rate was not significantly modified by treatment duration in the dual therapy schemes (5 days: 20/40, 50%; 7 days: 28/40, 70%; 10 days: 26/40, 65%). The eradication rate of the 1 week levofloxacin based triple therapy was significantly higher than that observed using any dual therapies (36/40). No major adverse effects were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A rabeprazole/levofloxacin dual eradication regimen is simple and well tolerated but does not achieve an acceptable eradication rate when compared to a 1 week rabeprazole/levofloxacin/amoxycillin triple therapy. The eradication rate did not increase with a longer regimen.
authors.affiliation: Pathology Department, UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Caro
authors.forename: Maria Assunta
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Zocco
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cremonini
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Candelli
authors.forename: Enrico C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Nista
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bartolozzi
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Armuzzi
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cammarota
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Santarelli
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gasbarrini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D064704:Levofloxacin; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015242:Ofloxacin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D064704:Levofloxacin; D015242:Ofloxacin