Efficacy of a 7-day course of furazolidone, levofloxacin, and lansoprazole after failed Helicobacter pylori eradication.
BACKGROUND
Increasing resistance to clarithromycin and nitroimidazole is the main cause of failure in the Helicobacter pylori eradication. The ideal retreatment regimen remains unclear, especially in developing countries, where the infection presents high prevalence and resistance to antibiotics. The study aimed at determining the efficacy, compliance and adverse effects of a regimen that included furazolidone, levofloxacin and lansoprazole in patients with persistent Helicobacter pylori infection, who had failed to respond to at least one prior eradication treatment regimen.


METHODS
This study included 48 patients with peptic ulcer disease. Helicobacter pylori infection was confirmed by a rapid urease test and histological examination of samples obtained from the antrum and corpus during endoscopy. The eradication therapy consisted of a 7-day twice daily oral administration of lansoprazole 30 mg, furazolidone 200 mg and levofloxacin 250 mg. Therapeutic success was confirmed by a negative rapid urease test, histological examination and 14C- urea breath test, performed 12 weeks after treatment completion. The Chi-square method was used for comparisons among eradication rates, previous treatments and previous furazolidone use.


RESULTS
Only one of the 48 patients failed to take all medications, which was due to adverse effects (vomiting). Per-protocol and intention-to-treat eradication rates were 89% (95% CI- 89%-99%) and 88% (88-92%), respectively. Mild and moderate adverse effects were reported by 41 patients (85%). For patients with one previous treatment failure, the eradication rate was 100%. Compared to furazolidone-naïve patients, eradication rates were lower in those who had failed prior furazolidone-containing regimen(s) (74% vs. 100%, p = 0.002).


CONCLUSIONS
An empiric salvage-regimen including levofloxacin, furazolidone and lansoprazole is very effective in the eradication of Helicobacter pylori, particularly in patients that have failed one prior eradication therapy.
Eisig
Jaime N
JN
Serviço de Gastroenterologia Clínica, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. eisig@uol.com.br
Silva
Fernando M
FM
Barbuti
Ricardo C
RC
Rodriguez
Tomás Navarro
TN
Malfertheiner
Peter
P
Moraes Filho
Joaquim P P
JP
Zaterka
Schlioma
S
D053799:2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005664:Furazolidone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D064747:Lansoprazole; D064704:Levofloxacin; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015242:Ofloxacin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D053799:2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D064747:Lansoprazole; D005664:Furazolidone; D064704:Levofloxacin; D015242:Ofloxacin