Standard triple, bismuth pectin quadruple and sequential therapies for Helicobacter pylori eradication

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.

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 assessed by gastroscopy. chi(2) test (P < 0.05) was used to compare the eradication rates and ulcer cicatrisation rates among the three groups.

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.

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.