Eradication of Helicobacter pylori in hemodialysis patients.
BACKGROUND
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) are a causative agent of digestive disease. Although a proton pump inhibitor combined with amoxicillin-clarithromycin is the accepted drug treatment for H. pylori eradication in Japan, there is no consensus treatment for hemodialysis patients.


METHODS
Seventy-seven hemodialysis patients underwent upper digestive tract endoscopy. Biopsy specimens were taken, and histological findings, culture, and rapid urease tests were performed to confirm the presence of H. pylori. H. pylori-positive patients were then administered at random either a seven-day lansoprazole (60 mg a day)-amoxicillin (750 mg a day)-clarithromycin (400 mg a day) (LAC) regimen or a seven-day lansoprazole (60 mg a day)-clarithromycin (400 mg a day) (LC) regimen. The success of H. pylori eradication was determined from histological findings, culture, and rapid urease tests.


RESULTS
In 13 of 77 patients (13.6%), ulcers and/or ulcer scars were seen by endoscopy. Thirty-one patients (40.3%) were positive for H. pylori, and 20 patients among them were randomized to one of two regimens: one is seven-day LAC regimen (eleven patients) and the other is seven-day LC regimen (nine patients). Eradication was successful in nine of the eleven patients (72.7%) receiving the LAC regimen, but in only three of the nine patients (33.3%) who underwent the LC regimen. No serious adverse effects were observed with either regimen, and 95% of the patients reported complete compliance.


CONCLUSIONS
A seven-day low dose LAC regimen is safe and effective and recommended for treatment of H. pylori infection in hemodialysis patients.
Itatsu
Tomoko
T
Department of Internal Medicine, Juntendo Koshigaya Hospital, Saitama, Japan. titatsu@med.juntendo.ac.jp
Miwa
Hiroto
H
Nagahara
Akihito
A
Kubota
Minoru
M
Miyazaki
Akihisa
A
Sato
Nobuhiro
N
Hayashida
Yasuo
Y
D053799:2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D064747:Lansoprazole; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis
D053799:2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D064747:Lansoprazole; D000658:Amoxicillin; D017291:Clarithromycin