[The efficacy of levofloxacin based triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication].
OBJECTIVE
The failure rates of first and second line therapies of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication range from 15 to 20%. This study was aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of levofloxacin based triple therapy compared with standard triple or quadruple therapy for H. pylori eradication in Korea.


METHODS
We enrolled two hundred and sixty seven patients with presence of H. pylori infection. One hundred and forty-one patients were treated with levofloxacin based triple therapy (LAP; levofloxacin, amoxicillin, proton pump inhibitor; PPI), and 126 patients were treated with standard triple therapy (CAP; clarithromycin, amoxicillin, PPI). We retreated the patients who had failed in H. pylori eradication with standard quadruple second-line therapy (MTPB; metronidazole, tetracycline, PPI, bismuth subcitrate) or levofloxacin based therapy (LAP or LCP; levofloxacin, clarithromycin, PPI).


RESULTS
In first line therapy of H. pylori eradication, the eradication rates of levofloxacin based triple therapy and standard triple therapy were 69.8% and 74.0% respectively (p=0.52). In second-line therapy, the eradication rate of levofloxacin based triple therapy and standard quadruple therapy were 62.5% and 40.0% respectively (p=0.34).


CONCLUSIONS
Levofloxacin based triple therapy is effective as standard regimen to eradicate H. pylori infection and is useful for an alternative rescue therapy as well.
Lee
Ji Hyun
JH
Department of Internal Medicine, Bundang CHA Hospital, Pochon CHA University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea.
Hong
Sung Pyo
SP
Kwon
Chang Il
CI
Phyun
Lea Hyun
LH
Lee
Byoung Sok
BS
Song
Han Ul
HU
Ko
Kwang Hyun
KH
Hwang
Seong Gyu
SG
Park
Pil Won
PW
Rim
Kyu Sung
KS
Kim
Sehyun
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D064704:Levofloxacin; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015242:Ofloxacin / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D064704:Levofloxacin; D015242:Ofloxacin