Efficacy of two one-week rabeprazole/levofloxacin-based triple therapies for Helicobacter pylori infection

Background: One-week low-dose proton pump inhibitor-based triple therapies have usually proved to be effective treatments for Helicobacter pylori infe ction. Aim: To investigate the eradication efficacy, safety profile and patient co mpliance of two triple therapies containing a standard dose of rabeprazole and a new fluoroquinolone, levofloxacin. Methods: One hundred patients referred to us for gastroscopy, who were H. p ylori-positive, were consecutively recruited in a prospective, open-label s tudy. The enrolled patients were randomised to receive a seven-day course o f rabeprazole 20 mg o.d. plus levofloxacin 500 mg o.d. and either amoxycill in 1 g b.d. (RLA group) or tinidazole 500 mg b.d. (RLT group). Their H. pyl ori status was assessed by means of histology and rapid urease test at entr y, and by C-13-urea breath test 8 weeks after the end of treatment. Conclusions: All 100 enrolled patients completed the study. Forty-six of 50 patients treated with RLA (both PP and ITT analysis: 92%; 95% CI: 81-98%) and 45 of 50 with RLT (both PP and ITT analysis: 90%: 95% CI: 78-97%), beca me H. pylori-negative. Slight or mild side-effects occurred in 4 (8%) patie nts of the RLA group and in 5 (10%) of the RLT group. This study demonstrates the efficacy of two 1-week rabeprazole-based triple therapies including levofloxacin to eradicate H. pylori. These regimens pr ove to be safe, well-tolerated, and achieved good eradication rates. Levofl oxacin may be an effective alternative to clarithromycin in triple therapy regimens.