Efficacy of sucralfate for Helicobacter pylori eradication triple therapy in comparison with a lansoprazole-based regimen

Background: Sucralfate has an inhibitory action against Helicobacter pylori and enhances the anti-H. pylori activity of antimicrobials. Aim: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of sucralfate-based eradication th erapy for H. pylori infection, compared with that based on lansoprazole, in a randomized multicentre study. Subjects and methods: The subjects were 150 H. pylori-positive patients. Th ey were randomly assigned to one of two regimens for 2 weeks: sucralfate 1 g t.d.s., amoxycillin 500 mg t.d.s., and clarithromycin 400 mg b.d. (SAC re gimen: 75 patients); or lansoprazole 30 mg o.m. with the same antimicrobial medications (LAC regimen: 75 patients). Cure of infection was assessed by a C-13 urea breath test 1 month after completion of treatment. Results: Eight patients (four in the SAC group and four in LAC group) could not continue therapy because of severe diarrhoea, and three did not take t he C-13 urea breath test after therapy. Cure rates for intention-to-treat, all-patients-treated, and per protocol analysis in the SAC group were 80%, 83%, and 88%, respectively, and those in the LAC group were 87%, 87%, and 9 2%, respectively. There were no significant differences in cure rate or adv erse effects between the two regimens. Conclusion: Sucralfate in combination with amoxycillin and clarithromycin i s as effective as lansoprazole-based eradication therapy for H. pylori.