Rescue therapies for Helicobacter pylori infection after failure of proton pump inhibitor-based standard triple therapy

Seo, Young Hwan; Rhie, Su Yeon; Park, Bum Joon; Kim, Hyung Joon; Kim, Jae Gyu

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Proton pump inhibitor (PPI)-based standard triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection is widely used, but it has a considerable failure rate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of rescue therapies with a quadruple regimen and a rifabutin-based regimen for patients who experienced failure with PPI-based standard triple therapy.
METHODS
From July 2004 through October 2006, 52 patients for whom first line triple therapy (PPI, amoxicillin and clarithromycin) had failed were included in this study. They were treated with a quadruple regimen for 7 days (PPI, bismuth, tetracycline and metronidazole) as a second line therapy. For third line therapy, a rifabutin-based regimen (PPI, rifabutin and amoxicillin) was prescribed for 14 days. The H. pylori status was determined before and at least 4 weeks after therapy by the 13C urea breath test or by endoscopy with antral and corpus biopsies for a rapid urease test, histological examination and culture.
RESULTS
The mean age was 52.6 years. Thirteen patients (25%) of the 52 patients were dropped. The eradication rate of the quadruple therapy was 84.6% (33/39). Three patients of the 6 failures with quadruple therapy were then treated with the rifabutin-based regimen. The eradication rate of the rifabutin-based therapy was 100% (3/3). Adverse effects (10.2%) were reported in 4 patients who were treated with quadruple regimen.
CONCLUSIONS
The quadruple regimen is still an effective second-line therapy for Korean patients who experience failure with PPI-based standard triple therapy. The rifabutin-based regimen could be used as a third-line rescue therapy in Korea.