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Comparison of 10-day levofloxacin bismuth-based quadruple therapy and levofloxacin-based triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori

Wu TS, Hsu PI, Kuo CH, Hu HM, Wu IC, Wang SSW, Chen YH, Wu DC et al.

Journal of digestive diseases, 2017

34 participants

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This was a prospective study aiming to investigate whether levofloxacin plus bismuth-based quadruple therapy was more effective than levofloxacin-based triple therapy after failed first-line eradication therapies for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection.

METHODS: Sixty-seven patients infected with H. pylori were randomly assigned to two groups; the levofloxacin plus bismuth-based quadruple therapy group (RBAL [n = 33]; rabeprazole 20 mg twice daily, bismuth subcitrate 120 mg four times daily, amoxicillin 1 g twice daily and levofloxacin 500 mg once daily, for 10 days) and the levofloxacin-based triple therapy group (RAL [n = 34]; rabeprazole 20 mg twice daily, amoxicillin 1 g twice daily and levofloxacin 500 mg once daily, for 10 days). Endoscopy was performed 4-8 weeks after H. pylori eradication to assess treatment response. We followed up patient response and compliance and checked their resistance to antibiotics.

RESULTS: Intention-to-treat analysis revealed that both groups had similar eradication rates (RBAL vs RAL: 84.8% [95% confidence interval {CI} 72.6-97.1%] vs 67.6% [95% CI 51.9-83.4%], P = 0.0987). No significant differences in compliance or adverse events were found (P = 0.9829 and 0.0720). Epsilometer test showed that most eradication failure cases were levofloxacin-resistant.

CONCLUSIONS: Adding bismuth subcitrate to levofloxacin-based triple therapy was not more effective than not doing so, but no further side effects were noted. Both…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design. Reported size: 34 participants or records.

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