CLARITHROMYCIN FOR THE ERADICATION OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI

Helicobacter pylori infection has proven to be extraordinarily difficu lt to eradicate. Antimicrobial monotherapies have been particularly di sappointing, with most eradication rates in the range of 0-15%. Clarit hromycin has potential advantages over other macrolides to which H. py lori is susceptible because of its acid stability and solubility at lo w pH. We evaluated clarithromycin therapy (250 mg four times daily for 14 days) in 12 H. pylori-infected patients. The C-13-urea breath test was used to evaluate the effectiveness of therapy. Eradication was de fined as a negative urea breath test 4-6 weeks after the end of treatm ent. Suppression of H. pylori was demonstrated in 11 of 12 patients (9 2%) by a negative urea breath test 2 days after start of treatment. H. pylori was eradicated in five (42%) of 12 patients. Adverse events we re intermittent and mild. Clarithromycin is the first antimicrobial ag ent that appears to offer promise as monotherapy for the eradication o f H. pylori.