Rabeprazole, clarithromycin, and amoxicillin Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy: report of an efficacy study.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the efficacy of a standard triple therapy (comprising rabeprazole, clarithromycin, and amoxicillin) for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication, noting factors that influence the outcome and documenting any adverse events.


METHODS
Following institutional ethical approval, fifty consecutive and consenting symptomatic patients with evidence of H. pylori infection by either a positive urea breath test (UBT) and/or a campylobacter-like organism test who presented to the Gastroenterology clinic of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital between 2012 and 2013 were recruited into the study. Patients were openly randomized to either a 7-d or a 10-d regimen of amoxicillin 1 g, clarithromycin 500 mg and rabeprazole 20 mg twice daily. The extent of symptom resolution was noted following the treatment, and at the end of one month after the completion of treatment, a repeat UBT was performed in each patient to document the eradication of the infection. All data (demographics, symptoms, and eradication rates) were collated and analyzed with SPSS version 18.


RESULTS
Forty-seven patients completed the study (three were excluded from the analysis for breaching the study protocol). The patients included 18 males and 29 females within the age range of 13-80 years (mean 43.7, SD 16.8). The clinical features of the study subjects were dyspepsia, reflux symptoms and features of gastrointestinal bleeding. The average eradication rate was 87.2%. Eighteen subjects were enrolled in the 7-d arm, while 29 were in the 10-d arm. There was no statistically significant difference in the age or sex distributions of the two arms. There was no significant advantage of the 10-d treatment duration over the 7-d duration (P = 0.78), and the eradication outcomes were not influenced by the gender or age of the subjects. No adverse effects were reported in either arm.


CONCLUSIONS
The triple therapy regime, employing a combination of amoxicillin, clarithromycin and rabeprazole, showed great efficacy and safety in the eradication of H. pylori, and this outcome was not influenced by gender or age. No difference was observed between the 7-d and 10-d regimens.
Charles Asabamaka Onyekwere, Joan Nwabuaku Odiagah, Rufina Igetei, Amancia Olufunmilayo Duro Emanuel, Francis Ekere, Gastroenterology unit, Department of Medicine, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos 999062, Nigeria.
Charles Asabamaka
CA
Onyekwere
Charles Asabamaka Onyekwere, Joan Nwabuaku Odiagah, Rufina Igetei, Amancia Olufunmilayo Duro Emanuel, Francis Ekere, Gastroenterology unit, Department of Medicine, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos 999062, Nigeria.
Joan Nwabuaku
JN
Odiagah
Charles Asabamaka Onyekwere, Joan Nwabuaku Odiagah, Rufina Igetei, Amancia Olufunmilayo Duro Emanuel, Francis Ekere, Gastroenterology unit, Department of Medicine, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos 999062, Nigeria.
Rufina
R
Igetei
Charles Asabamaka Onyekwere, Joan Nwabuaku Odiagah, Rufina Igetei, Amancia Olufunmilayo Duro Emanuel, Francis Ekere, Gastroenterology unit, Department of Medicine, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos 999062, Nigeria.
Amancia Olufunmilayo Duro
AO
Emanuel
Charles Asabamaka Onyekwere, Joan Nwabuaku Odiagah, Rufina Igetei, Amancia Olufunmilayo Duro Emanuel, Francis Ekere, Gastroenterology unit, Department of Medicine, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos 999062, Nigeria.
Francis
F
Ekere
Charles Asabamaka Onyekwere, Joan Nwabuaku Odiagah, Rufina Igetei, Amancia Olufunmilayo Duro Emanuel, Francis Ekere, Gastroenterology unit, Department of Medicine, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos 999062, Nigeria.
Stella
S
Smith
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001944:Breath Tests; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064750:Rabeprazole / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014508:Urea / Q000737:chemistry; D055815:Young Adult
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D064750:Rabeprazole; D000658:Amoxicillin; D014508:Urea; D017291:Clarithromycin
Amoxicillin clarithromycin; Eradication therapy; Helicobacter pylori; Rabeprazole triple therapy