Low-dose furazolidone in triple and quadruple regimens for Helicobacter pylori eradication.
BACKGROUND
Furazolidone-based regimens for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori are low cost and effective. Unfortunately, the usual dose of furazolidone is not tolerable in many patients. Lower doses of furazolidone are expected to cause fewer adverse effects.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the efficacy of low-dose furazolidone in the eradication of H. pylori.


METHODS
One hundred and fifty patients with duodenal ulcer and H. pylori infection were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: omeprazole 20 mg b.d., amoxicillin 1000 mg b.d. and furazolidone 100 mg b.d. for 14 days (OAF); omeprazole 20 mg b.d., amoxicillin 1000 mg b.d., furazolidone 100 mg b.d. and bismuth subcitrate 240 mg b.d. for 14 days (OABF1); or omeprazole 20 mg b.d., amoxicillin 1000 mg b.d., furazolidone 200 mg b.d. and bismuth subcitrate 240 mg b.d. for 14 days (OABF2).


RESULTS
Of the 150 patients, 145 completed treatment. The intention-to-treat and per protocol eradication rates were 54% (27/50), 72% (36/50) and 92% (46/50) for the OAF, OABF1 and OABF2 groups, respectively. The OAF and OABF1 groups showed significantly lower eradication rates than the OABF2 group (P<0.001 and P<0.01, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Triple and quadruple furazolidone-based H. pylori eradication regimens do not yield acceptable success rates when a low dose of furazolidone (100 mg b.d.) is used.
Fakheri
H
H
Digestive Disease Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Merat
S
S
Hosseini
V
V
Malekzadeh
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005664:Furazolidone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D005664:Furazolidone; D000658:Amoxicillin; C002791:bismuth tripotassium dicitrate; D009853:Omeprazole