Sofalcone, a mucoprotective agent, increases the cure rate of Helicobacter pylori infection when combined with rabeprazole, amoxicillin and clarithromycin.
OBJECTIVE
The mucoprotective agents, sofalcone and polaprezinc have anti-Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) activities. We determined the therapeutic effects of sofalcone and polaprezinc when combined with rabeprazole, amoxicillin and clarithromycin for Helicobacter pylori infection.


METHODS
One hundred and sixty-five consecutive outpatients with peptic ulcer and H pylori infection were randomly assigned to one of the following three groups and medicated for 7 d. Group A: triple therapy with rabeprazole (10 mg twice daily), clarithromycin (200 mg twice daily) and amoxicillin (750 mg twice daily). Group B: sofalcone (100 mg thrice daily) plus the triple therapy. Group C: polaprezinc (150 mg twice daily) plus the triple therapy. Eradication was considered successful if (13)C-urea breath test was negative at least 4 wk after cessation of eradication regimens or successive famotidine in the cases of active peptic ulcer.


RESULTS
On intention-to-treat basis, H pylori cure was achieved in 43 of 55 (78.2%) patients, 47 of 54 (87.0%) and 45 of 56 (80.4%) for the groups A, B and C respectively. Using per protocol analysis, the eradication rates were 81.1% (43/53), 94.0% (47/50) and 84.9% (45/53) respectively. There was a significant difference in the cure rates between group A and B. Adverse events occurred in 10, 12 and 11 patients, from groups A, B and C respectively, but the events were generally mild.


CONCLUSIONS
The addition of sofalcone, but not polaprezinc, significantly increased the cure rate of H pylori infection when combined with the rabeprazole-amoxicillin-clarithromycin regimen.
Isomoto
Hajime
H
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Nagasaki University School of medicine, Nagasaki, Japan. hajimei2002@yahoo.co.jp
Furusu
Hisashi
H
Ohnita
Ken
K
Wen
Chun-Yang
CY
Inoue
Kenichiro
K
Kohno
Shigeru
S
D053799:2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002599:Chalcone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D047188:Chalcones; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D064750:Rabeprazole
D053799:2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D047188:Chalcones; C035032:sofalcone; D064750:Rabeprazole; D002599:Chalcone; D000658:Amoxicillin; D017291:Clarithromycin; D009853:Omeprazole