Comparison of 7- and 14-day first-line therapies including levofloxacin in patients with Helicobacter pylori positive non-ulcer dyspepsia.
OBJECTIVE
Because of the increasing resistance to clarithromycin and metronidazole, the most frequently used antibiotics in the first-line therapy of Helicobacter pylori eradication, new therapeutic alternatives are needed. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of 7- and 14-day triple therapy including lansoprazole, levofloxacin and amoxicillin for Helicobacter pylori eradication as a first-line therapy.


METHODS
Ninety-one non-ulcer dyspeptic patients infected with Helicobacter pylori as diagnosed by both histology and a rapid urease test were included in this study. Patients were randomized to receive either 7- (Group 1; 51 patients) or 14-day (Group 2; 40 patients) therapy with lansoprazole (30 mg b.i.d.), plus levofloxacin (500 mg o.i.d.) and amoxicillin (1000 mg b.i.d.) and they were followed for six weeks. Eradication was assessed by 14C-urea breath test four weeks after completing the treatment protocols.


RESULTS
In Group 1, 41 patients completed the treatment and the eradication rate was 34.15%. In group 2, 36 patients completed the treatment and the eradication rate was 72.2% (p= 0.001 vs group 1).


CONCLUSIONS
Triple therapy with lansoprazole, levofloxacin and amoxicillin for 14 days was effective for Helicobacter pylori eradication, but 7-day therapy with the same protocol had a lower and unacceptable cure rate and should not be used.
Department of Gastroenterology, Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey. cnercin@hotmail.com
Cemal Nuri
CN
Erçin
Ahmet
A
Uygun
Ahmet Burak
AB
Toros
Murat
M
Kantarcioğlu
Güldem
G
Kilciler
Zülfikar
Z
Polat
Sait
S
Bağci
D053799:2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000328:Adult; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001944:Breath Tests; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D064747:Lansoprazole; D064704:Levofloxacin; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015242:Ofloxacin / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D053799:2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D064747:Lansoprazole; D064704:Levofloxacin; D000658:Amoxicillin; D015242:Ofloxacin