GASTRIC DIFFUSION OF ANTIBIOTICS USED AGAINST HELICOBACTER-PYLORI

Only a few pharmacological studies have been carried out on men and gu inea pigs to determine the gastric diffusion of antibiotics, which are active against Helicobacter pylori. The results of these studies have been analysed in considering the physicochemical nature, the mode of administration, the way of gastric diffusion (topic and/or systemic) a nd the pharmacological interactions. The correlation of these pharmaco kinetic results with those obtained in clinical trials is difficult be cause of the heterogeneity of the pharmacological and pharmacodynamic data. The absence of a convenient and suitable animal or in vitro stud y model renders further standardized pharmacokinetic studies in infect ed man and at steady state necessary. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.