Triple therapies plus different probiotics for Helicobacter pylori eradication

Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2008 Jul-Aug;12(4):251-6.

Abstract

The Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) cure rate following standard triple therapies is decreasing worldwide. Therefore, further approaches aimed to improve standard triple therapy efficacy should be attempted. This prospective, pilot study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic role of either Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri) or a high concentration of probiotics in addition to standard triple therapies for H. pylori eradication. The study enrolled 65 consecutive dyspeptic patients with H. pylori infection. All patients underwent upper endoscopy with gastric biopsies. Patients were assigned to receive one of the following therapies: (a) standard 7-day triple; (b) the same 7-day triple therapy plus L. reuteri supplementation; (c) the same 7-day triple therapy plus a probiotic mixture; and d) a 14-day standard triple therapy plus a probiotic mixture. H. pylori eradication was checked by using a 13C-urea breath test performed 4-6 weeks after treatment. No therapy regimen achieved > 80% eradication rate at both intention-to-treat (ITT) and per protocol (PP) analyses. Although the 14-day therapy plus a probiotic mixture tended to achieve higher eradication rate (71%), no statistically significant difference emerged among the different therapy regimens tested (range: 53-71%). The lowest incidence of side-effects was observed following the 7-day therapy plus L. reuteri (6%) and highest with the 14-day triple therapy plus probiotic mixture (33%), although the difference failed to reach the statistically significance. In conclusion, our data found that 7-14 days triple therapy with or without probiotic supplementation failed to achieved acceptable H. pylori eradication rates.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Controlled Clinical Trial
  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • 2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles / adverse effects
  • 2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles / therapeutic use
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Amoxicillin / adverse effects
  • Amoxicillin / therapeutic use
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / adverse effects
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Anti-Ulcer Agents / adverse effects
  • Anti-Ulcer Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Clarithromycin / adverse effects
  • Clarithromycin / therapeutic use
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Helicobacter Infections / drug therapy*
  • Helicobacter pylori / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Lansoprazole
  • Limosilactobacillus reuteri / chemistry
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pilot Projects
  • Probiotics / adverse effects
  • Probiotics / therapeutic use*
  • Prospective Studies

Substances

  • 2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Anti-Ulcer Agents
  • Lansoprazole
  • Amoxicillin
  • Clarithromycin