title: Meta-analysis: is sequential therapy superior to standard triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection in Asian adults?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although several meta-analyses suggested that sequential therapy (SQT) is superior to standard triple therapy (STT) for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori, these results were mainly based on the studies from Italy. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of 10-day SQT for H. pylori infection compared with STT in Asian adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed an electronic search of the Cochrane Library, Medline, and Embase up to April 21, 2013, with no language restrictions. Randomized controlled trials comparing 10-day SQT with STT for H. pylori eradication in Asian adults were included in this analysis. The primary outcome measures were the risk ratios (RRs) for successful eradication of H. pylori based on intention to treat comparing SQT with STT. The secondary outcome measures were the RRs for side effects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventeen randomized controlled trials with a total of 3419 participants (1591 for SQT and 1828 for STT) met the inclusion criteria. The eradication rate was 81.8% (95% CI: 78.9-84.6) for SQT and 74.3% (95% CI: 69.6-78.8) for SST, respectively. The pooled RR was 1.10 (95% CI: 1.04-1.16, P = 0.0005), which demonstrated significant superiority of SQT over STT, and the number needed to treat was 14 (95% CI: 9-29). There were no significant differences between SQT and STT in the risk of side effects (the pooled RR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.87-1.10, P = 0.73).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ten-day SQT appears to be superior to STT for H. pylori eradication in Asian adults. However, the pooled efficacy is lower than results from earlier European studies.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hyuk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Dong Ho
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Nayoung
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young Soo
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Cheol Min
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Kyu Keun
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Dong Hyun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Dong Kee
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Jun-Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors; D008795:Metronidazole; D000658:Amoxicillin; D017291:Clarithromycin
keywords: Helicobacter pylori; eradication; meta-analysis; sequential therapy