Levofloxacin-containing triple therapy to eradicate the persistent H. pylori after a failed conventional triple therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the optimal dosage of levofloxacin to eradicate persistent Helicobacter pylori when triple therapy with amoxicillin, clarithromycin, and omeprazole fails.


METHODS
We investigated 124 patients whose triple therapy including clarithromycin had failed. Clarithromycin resistance was indirectly assessed by the (13)C-urea breath test, with a post-treatment value cut-off point at 15. All patients were randomly divided into two groups, to receive 1-week amoxicillin 1 g and lansoprazole 30 mg twice daily, plus either levofloxacin 500 mg once (ALL-500 group) or twice daily (ALL-1000 group). Six weeks later, the (13)C-urea breath test was repeated to assess whether H. pylori was eradicated.


RESULTS
Intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analysis showed no difference in H. pylori eradication rates in both the ALL-500 and ALL-1000 groups (ITT: 79% vs. 80.6%, p > .05; PP: 86% vs. 87.5%, p > .05). For both groups, the per-protocol H. pylori eradication rates were also similarly high between patients with a post-treatment value of (13)C-urea breath test < or = 15 and those with a value > 15 (ALL-500: 85% vs. 86.5%, p > .05; ALL-1000: 88.9% vs. 86.8%, p > .05).


CONCLUSIONS
One-week levofloxacin 500 mg daily-based triple therapy is effective for eradicating the persistent H. pylori after a failed triple therapy with amoxicillin, clarithromycin, and omeprazole.
Cheng
Hsiu-Chi
HC
Department of Internal Medicine, and Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 138 Sheng Li Road, Tainan 70428, Taiwan.
Chang
Wei-Lun
WL
Chen
Wei-Ying
WY
Yang
Hsiao-Bai
HB
Wu
Jiunn-Jong
JJ
Sheu
Bor-Shyang
BS
D053799:2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003248:Constipation / Q000139:chemically induced; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D064747:Lansoprazole; D064704:Levofloxacin; D008297:Male; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D015242:Ofloxacin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced
D053799:2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D064747:Lansoprazole; D064704:Levofloxacin; D000658:Amoxicillin; D015242:Ofloxacin; D017291:Clarithromycin