One-week versus two-week furazolidone-based quadruple therapy as the first-line treatment for Helicobacter pylori infection in Iran.
OBJECTIVE
Furazolidone-based regimens for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori are low cost and effective although less tolerable. Our aim was to compare the efficacy and compliance of 1-week furazolidone-based quadruple therapy (furazolidone, amoxicillin, bismuth subcitrate, omeprazole; FABO) with 2-week quadruple therapy using the same drugs.


METHODS
One hundred and fifty-six consecutive patients with H. pylori related diseases were enrolled in our study. The patients were randomized into two groups of FABO1 and FABO2 groups receiving, 1 or 2 weeks' quadruple H. pylori eradication therapies, respectively, as follows: furazolidone (200 mg twice daily), amoxicillin (1 g twice daily), bismuth (240 mg twice daily) and omeprazole (20 mg twice daily). The chi(2) test was used to compare the efficacy of the therapies.


RESULTS
The per-protocol eradication rate in FABO1 and FABO2 groups were 56/66 (84.8%) and 57/69 (82.6%), respectively. The intention-to-treat eradication rate was 56/78 (71.8%) in FABO1 group and 57/78 (73.1%) in FABO2 group. There was not any significant statistical difference between two groups. A significant decrease in compliance in FABO2 group was seen.


CONCLUSIONS
This is an encouraging report showing a therapy with possible success in decreasing the duration of H. pylori infection as well as reaching the eradication rate of 80%.
Daghaghzadeh
Hamed
H
Isfahan University of Medical Science and Pour Sina Hakim Research Institution, Isfahan, Iran.
Emami
Mohammad Hasan
MH
Karimi
Somayeh
S
Raeisi
Mostafa
M
D000328:Adult; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D005664:Furazolidone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D013997:Time Factors
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D005664:Furazolidone