One-week once-daily triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori - A pilot study

Background/Aims: Proton-pump inhibitor-based triple therapy given over one to two weeks is currently one of the recommended regimens for eradication o f Helicobacter pylori. Most of these regimens require twice daily intake of medication. The present study explored the possibility of using a one-week once-daily triple therapy in the eradication of H. pylori. Methodology: Thirty-two consecutive patients with acid-peptic disease assoc iated with H. pylori infection (duodenal ulcer 18 patients; gastric ulcer 8 patients; duodenitis 1 patient; gastritis 5 patients) were prospectively r ecruited. They were given a 1-week course of lansoprazole 30mg, clarithromy cin modified-release 500mg, and metronidazole 800mg, all taken once daily. Results: The age of these 32 patients ranged from 17-89 years with a mean o f 57.5 years. Side effects occurred in 5 patients (15.6%; 95%CI: 5.3-32.8%) . All patients finished the treatment and underwent a second endoscopy. Pos itive endoscopic finding was found in one patient (3.1%; 95%CI: 0.07-16.2%) . On intent-to-treat and per protocol analysis, the eradication rate was 87 .5% (95%CI: 71.0-96.5%). Conclusions: A one-week once-daily course of lansoprazole, clarithromycin m odified release and metronidazole is a safe, well-tolerated, easy to comply with, and efficacious treatment for H. pylori infection. In view of the sm all sample size, further studies should be performed to validate its effect iveness.