Standard triple, bismuth pectin quadruple and sequential therapies forHelicobacter pylorieradication

AIM:To compare the effectiveness of standard triple, bismuth pectin quadruple and sequential therapies for Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori ) eradication in a randomized, double-blinded, comparative clinical trial in China. METHODS:A total of 215 H. pylori -positive patients were enrolled in the study and randomly allocated into three groups: group A (n = 72) received a 10-d bismuth pectin quadruple therapy (20 mg rabeprazole bid , 1000 mg amoxicillin bid , 100 mg bismuth pectin qid , and 500 mg levofloxacin qd ); group B (n = 72) received the sequential therapy (20 mg omeprazole bid , 1000 mg amoxicillin bid , in 5 d, followed by 20 mg omeprazole bid , 500 mg tinidazole bid , 500 mg clarithromycin bid , for another 5 d); group C (n = 71) received a standard 1-wk triple therapy (20 mg omeprazole bid , 1000 mg amoxicillin bid , 500 mg clarithromycin bid ).After all these treatments, 20 mg omeprazole bid was administrated for 3 wk.H. pylori status was assessed by histology, 13C-urea breath test and rapid urease test at baseline and 4-6 wk after completion of treatment.Ulcer cicatrization was as-sessed by gastroscopy.χ 2 test (P < 0.05) was used to compare the eradication rates and ulcer cicatrisation rates among the three groups. RESULTS:The eradication rate was 83.33% (60/72) in group A, 88.89% (64/72) in group B, and 80.56% (58/71) in group C. The ulcer cicatrisation rate was 86.44% (51/59) in group A, 90.16% (55/61) in group B, and 84.91% (45/53) in group C. The sequential therapy yielded a higher eradication rate and ulcer cicatrisation rate than the standard triple and bismuth pectin quadruple therapies.Statistically, the eradication rate of group B was significantly different from groups A and C (P < 0.05), but the difference of ulcer cicatrisation rate and side effects was not statistically significant among the three groups (P > 0.05).The three protocols were generally well tolerated. CONCLUSION:The sequential therapy has achieved a significantly higher eradication rate, and is a more suitable first-line alternative protocol for anti-H.pylori infection compared with the standard triple and bismuth pectin quadruple therapies.