title: Standard triple versus levofloxacin based regimen for eradication of Helicobacter pylori.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the eradication rates for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and ulcer recurrence of standard triple therapy (STT) and levofloxacin based therapy (LBT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-four patients with perforated duodenal ulcer treated with simple closure and found to be H. pylori infected on 3 mo follow up were randomized to receive either the STT group comprising of amoxicillin 1 g bid, clarithromycin 500 mg bid and omeprazole 20 mg bid or the LBT group comprising of amoxicillin 1 g bid, levofloxacin 500 mg bid and omeprazole 20 mg bid for 10 d each. The H. pylori eradication rates, side effects, compliance and the recurrence of ulcer were assessed in the two groups at 3 mo follow up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-four patients in the STT group and 32 patients in the levofloxacin group presented at 3 mo follow up. H. pylori eradication rates were similar with STT and the LBT groups on intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis (69% vs 80%, P = 0.425) and (79% vs 87%, P = 0.513) by per-protocol (PP) analysis respectively. Ulcer recurrence in the STT and LBT groups on ITT analysis was (20% vs 14%, P = 0.551) and (9% vs 6%, P = 1.00) by PP analysis. Compliance and side effects were also comparable between the groups. A complete course of STT costs Indian Rupees (INR) 1060.00, while LBT costs only INR 360.00.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  H. pylori eradication rates and the rate of ulcer recurrence were similar between the STT and LBT. The LBT is a more economical option compared to STT.
authors.affiliation: Raj Gopal, Thirthar Palanivelu Elamurugan, Vikram Kate, Sadasivan Jagdish, Debdatta Basu, Department of Surgery, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry 605006, India.
authors.forename: Raj
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gopal
authors.forename: Thirthar Palanivelu
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Elamurugan
authors.forename: Vikram
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kate
authors.forename: Sadasivan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jagdish
authors.forename: Debdatta
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Basu
keywords: Eradication; Helicobacter pylori; Levofloxacin regime; Peptic perforation; Randomized control trial; Standard triple therapy