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H. Pylori Status (h + pylori_status)
Selected AbstractsRECENT PROGRESS IN ENDOSCOPY-BASED DIAGNOSIS OF HELICOBACTER PYLORI INFECTIONDIGESTIVE ENDOSCOPY, Issue 1 2001Tadashi Sato Numerous invasive and non-invasive tests are available in the detection of Helicobacter pylori. Endoscopy-based tests that include rapid urease test, histological examination and culture are important generally in the assessment of H. pylori status before eradication therapy. Recently, several new endoscopy-based diagnostic methods have been developed aiming at rapid and accurate detection of the organisms. It would be possible to diagnose H. pylori infection in treated patients by using these new highly sensitive tests. Although the diagnosis of H. pylori infection itself is possible by using non-invasive diagnostic tests, endoscopy-based tests provide not only the diagnosis of the organisms, but also the exclusive information such as treatment indications and the susceptibility for the antimicrobial drugs. Recently, new triple therapy including clarithromycin has been widely performed in Japan. Along with an increase in the prevalence of the antibiotic-resistant strains, culture may become a more important diagnostic method in the future. The inappropriate application of the tests may increase the potential risk of the misdiagnosis and the treatment failures. The diagnostic method should be selected by taking into account the circumstances in which a diagnosis is to be performed. [source] Proof of an Association between Helicobacter pylori and Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura in Latin AmericaHELICOBACTER, Issue 3 2007Germán Campuzano-Maya Abstract Background:, Association between Helicobacter pylori and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) has been found in Japan and in some European countries. It has also been shown that eradication of H. pylori can increase platelet counts in patients with ITP. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of H. pylori infection in patients with ITP in Colombia, and the effect of bacterial eradication on their platelet counts. Materials and methods:, Between December 1998 and April 2006, a total of 32 patients diagnosed with ITP were included in the study. Controls were age and sex matched. Results:,H. pylori infection in patients with ITP was significantly higher (p = .00006) than in control individuals (90.6% and 43.8%, respectively), as determined by 13C-urea breath test. A significant association between H. pylori infection and ITP was found (p < .0003), with an odds ratio (OR) of 13.15 (95%CI: 3.24,53.29). Multivariate analysis for the association between H. pylori and ITP showed an OR of 20.44 (95%CI: 3.88,107.49) for women and 19.28 (95%CI: 2.03,183.42) for individuals over 50 years. All 29 H. pylori -positive patients with ITP received eradication treatment. After a median follow up of 12.2 months, 80.8% had a recovery in platelet counts. Conclusions:, According to these results and others from different countries where H. pylori infection rates are high, patients with ITP should be initially tested for H. pylori status, and if present, infection should be eradicated before initiating a drastic conventional ITP treatment. An algorithm for the study and management of patients with ITP in the post- Helicobacter era is presented. [source] Factors Related to Helicobacter pylori Prevalence in an Adult Population in BrazilHELICOBACTER, Issue 1 2007Schlioma Zaterka Abstract Background:, The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori is higher in developing countries. Sanitary facilities, crowding and ethnic group are some of the factors related to H. pylori infection. The aim of this study was to investigate in blood donors, free of dyspeptic symptoms, the prevalence and factors influencing H. pylori infection. Materials and Methods:, This study was conducted in São Paulo, a city known to have a mixed population coming from all over the country. A total of 1008 blood donors were initially included in the study. After a final revision of all the questionnaires, 993 were included in the final analysis (746 males). H. pylori status was checked by an ELISA test. The following associations to infection were analyzed: sex, age, ethnic group, previous upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy, smoking, alcoholism, drug addiction, type of drinking water, crowding, sanitary facilities, and family income. Results:, Infection was observed in 496 of 746 male (66.5%) and in 156 of 247 female (63.2%) blood donors. Infection prevalence increased according to age group, regardless of sex. Prevalence was lower in White population than in non-White. No relationship was observed between infection and smoking, drug addiction, and alcohol. A positive relation was observed between infection and previous upper GI endoscopy, and type of drinking water, regardless if currently or during childhood. Crowding and lack of toilet in the house during childhood resulted in a higher infection rate. Lower familial income and educational level showed a positive association to infection. Conclusions:, Prevalence of H. pylori is higher in non-White population, independent of gender. A positive association was observed in aging, previous upper GI endoscopy, crowding, type of drinking water, lack of toilet during childhood, lower family income, and lower educational level. [source] A Community-Based Study of Helicobacter pylori Therapy Using the Strategy of Test, Treat, Retest, and Re-treat Initial Treatment FailuresHELICOBACTER, Issue 5 2006Yi-Chia Lee Abstract Background:, Although eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection can decrease the risk of gastric cancer, the optimal regimen for treating the general population remains unclear. We report the eradication rate (intention-to-treat and per protocol) of a community-based H. pylori therapy using the strategy of test, treat, retest, and re-treat initial treatment failures. Materials and methods:, In 2004, a total of 2658 residents were recruited for 13C-urea breath testing. Participants with positive results for infection received a standard 7-day triple therapy (esomeprazole 40 mg once daily, amoxicillin 1 g twice daily, and clarithromycin 500 mg twice daily), and a 10-day re-treatment (esomeprazole 40 mg once daily, amoxicillin 1 g twice daily, and levofloxacin 500 mg once daily) if the follow-up tests remained positive. Both H. pylori status and side-effects were assessed 6 weeks after treatment. Results:, Among 886 valid reporters, eradication rates with initial therapy were 86.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 84.7,89.1%) and 88.7% (95%CI: 86.5,90.9%) by intention-to-treat and per protocol analysis, respectively. Re-treatment eradicated infection in 91.4% (95%CI: 86,96.8%) of 105 nonresponders. Adequate compliance was achieved in 798 (90.1%) of 886 subjects receiving the initial treatment and in all 105 re-treated subjects. Mild side-effects occurred in 24% of subjects. Overall intention-to-treat and per protocol eradication rates were 97.7% (95%CI: 96.7,98.7%) and 98.8% (95%CI: 98.5,99.3%), respectively, which were only affected by poor compliance (odds ratio, 3.3; 95%CI, 1.99,5.48; p < .0001). Conclusions:, A comprehensive plan using drugs in which the resistance rate is low in a population combined with the strategy of test, treat, retest, and re-treat of needed can result in virtual eradication of H. pylori from a population. This provides a model for planning country- or region-wide eradication programs. [source] Helicobacter pylori Infection is Associated with Reduced Circulating Ghrelin Levels Independent of Body Mass IndexHELICOBACTER, Issue 5 2005Akiko Shiotani ABSTRACT Background., Ghrelin stimulates growth hormone and has orexigenic and adipogenic effects. Plasma ghrelin levels are reduced in obesity and possibly in Helicobacter pylori infection. Aim., To investigate whether there was a relation between H. pylori infection, body mass index (BMI) and serum ghrelin or leptin levels. Methods., University students undergoing an annual health check-up were invited to participate. H. pylori status was based on the presence of specific IgG H. pylori antibodies in urine. Fasting serum ghrelin, leptin levels, and pepsinogen I and II levels were measured by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Results., Eight hundred and one students volunteered. There was no significant difference in the height and BMI between those with and without H. pylori infection. The population of ghrelin study consisted of 132 (66 H. pylori -positive and 66 H. pylori -negative) students matched for age, sex, and BMI. The ghrelin level in the H. pylori -positive group was significantly lower (median 55 pmol/l) compared to the H. pylori- negative group (103 pmol/l) (p < .00001). Leptin, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and HDL-cholesterol were not different between the two groups, whereas LDL-cholesterol levels were significantly higher (106 versus 100 mg/dl) (p = .03) in the H. pylori -positive group. Leptin levels correlated with the BMI (r = 0.53) (p < .00001). Among H. pylori -positive subjects, ghrelin correlated only with pepsinogen I levels (r = 0.26, p = .04). Conclusions.,H. pylori infection was associated with a reduction in circulating ghrelin levels independent of sex and BMI. [source] Effects of Helicobacter pylori Eradication on Platelet Activation and Disease Recurrence in Patients with Acute Coronary SyndromesHELICOBACTER, Issue 6 2004J. Ignasi Elizalde ABSTRACT Background., Platelet activation is consistently observed in animal models of Helicobacter pylori infection and could help to explain the alleged epidemiological association between H. pylori and coronary heart disease. Materials and Methods., Ninety-two patients with recent acute coronary syndromes were enrolled. Helicobacter pylori -positive patients were randomized to receive a 7-day course of omeprazole, amoxycillin and metronidazole or placebos. Two months later, H. pylori status was reassessed and baseline parameters, including soluble P-selectin and platelet surface expression of CD62P, CD63 and CD41, were measured again. Patients were followed-up for 1 year or until death or readmission. Results., No baseline differences were observed between H. pylori -positive and -negative cases. Among H. pylori -positive patients, 18 received placebo and 31 received active medication resulting in eradication in 21 cases. No differences were observed in inflammatory parameters or platelet activation markers between patients with persistent or resolved H. pylori infection. However, coronary events recurred at 6 and 12 months, respectively, in 35% and 55% of patients with persisting H. pylori infection compared with 10% and 25% of patients in whom H. pylori was either absent or eradicated (p = .01). Only final H. pylori status [RR 3.07 (95% CI 1.35,98)] and number of coronary risk factors [RR 2.58 (95% CI 1.51,4.41)] were independent predictors of recurrence. Conclusions., Infection with H. pylori does not induce significant platelet activation in patients treated for coronary disease. Helicobacter pylori -infected patients, however, may have an increased risk of recurrence of coronary events. [source] Is the Association Between Helicobacter pylori and Gastric Cancer Confined to CagA-Positive Strains?HELICOBACTER, Issue 3 2004Maria Held ABSTRACT Background., Infection with Helicobacter pylori is associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer. Several studies have indicated that the association differs with strain type. We aimed to find out if infection with strains lacking the virulence factor CagA is linked to gastric cancer risk. Materials and methods., In a hospital-based case,control study, we collected sera from 100 case patients with a newly diagnosed gastric adenocarcinoma and 96 control patients with diseases unrelated to H. pylori status. Antibodies to H. pylori were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and antibodies to CagA were detected by immunoblot. Logistic regression was used to obtain odds ratios (ORs) as estimates of relative risk, adjusted for potential confounding. Results., Among the case patients, 81% were ELISA positive and 86% had antibodies to CagA. The corresponding numbers among the controls were 58% and 55%, respectively. ELISA positivity was associated with an increased risk of gastric adenocarcinoma compared to ELISA negativity (OR for gastric cancer regardless of site 3.9, 95% CI 1.9,8.2). The OR was 7.4 (95% CI 3.3,16.6) for CagA-positive relative to CagA-negative subjects. Among ELISA-positive subjects the presence of CagA antibodies increased the risk 3.6 times (95% CI 1.2,11.1). ELISA-positive CagA-negative infections were associated with a fourfold increased risk (OR = 4.2, 95% CI 1.0,17.0) compared to no infection (ELISA-negative and CagA-negative). Conclusions., Although patients with antibodies to CagA have the greatest risk of developing gastric cancer, those with CagA-negative infections run a significantly greater risk than uninfected persons. [source] Age at Acquisition of Helicobacter pylori in a Pediatric Canadian First Nations PopulationHELICOBACTER, Issue 2 2002Samir K. Sinha Abstract Background. Few data exist regarding the epidem-iology of Helicobacter pylori infections in aboriginal, including the First Nations (Indian) or Inuit (Eskimo) populations of North America. We have previously found 95% of the adults in Wasagamack, a First Nations community in Northeastern Manitoba, Canada, are seropositive for H. pylori. We aimed to determine the age at acquisition of H. pylori among the children of this community, and if any association existed with stool occult blood or demographic factors. Materials and Methods. We prospectively enrolled children resident in the Wasagamack First Nation in August 1999. A demographic questionnaire was administered. Stool was collected, frozen and batch analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for H. pylori antigen and for the presence of occult blood. Questionnaire data were analyzed and correlated with the presence or absence of H. pylori. Results. 163 (47%) of the estimated 350 children aged 6 weeks to 12 years, resident in the community were enrolled. Stool was positive for H. pylori in 92 (56%). By the second year of life 67% were positive for H. pylori. The youngest to test positive was 6 weeks old. There was no correlation of a positive H. pylori status with gender, presence of pets, serum Hgb, or stool occult blood. Forty-three percent of H. pylori positive and 24% of H. pylori negative children were < 50th percentile for height (p = 0.024). Positive H. pylori status was associated with the use of indoor pail toileting (86/143) compared with outhouse toileting (6/20) (p = 0.01). Conclusions. In a community with widespread H. pylori infection, overcrowded housing and primitive toileting, H. pylori is acquired as early as 6 weeks of age, and by the second year of life 67% of children test positive for H. pylori. [source] The Relationship Between Helicobacter pylori Infection, the Virulence Genotypes of the Infecting Strain and Gastric Cancer in the African SettingHELICOBACTER, Issue 4 2001J. A. Louw Abstract Background. The relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric carcinoma remains controversial, especially in the African setting where infection is common, while gastric cancer is perceived to be uncommon, the basis of the so called ,African enigma'. This discrepancy between infection and the development of disease is commonly attributed to differences in host, environment and bacterial factors. Interest in the bacterial factors has focused on heterogeneity in the so-called ,virulence genes'. Aim. The aim of this prospective, case-controlled study was to establish whether H. pylori infection is significantly associated with gastric cancer and to investigate whether gastric cancer is associated with genotypically distinct (as it relates to the candidate virulence genes) organisms in this population. Methods. Patients with histologically confirmed gastric cancer were matched with nonulcer dyspeptic controls for age (within 5 years), gender and ethnicity. Helicobacter pylori status was determined by RUT, histology, culture and serology (locally validated and used as default determinant of H. pylori status). Tumors were classified according to the Lauren classification. The ,virulence genotype' of 17 paired culture samples was determined by previously described and validated molecular techniques (cagA presence, vacA alleles, structure of the cag pathogenicity island and analysis of the iceA alleles). Categorical variables were analysed by the ,2 test. Results. Forty-eight patients (median age 59 years) could be adequately matched to controls. 39/48 (81%) cases and 43/48 (90%) controls were H. pylori positive (NS). Significant differences in the virulence genotypes of infecting strains were noted: vacAs2-controls 24%, cases 0%, p < .00001; vacAs1 present , cases 100%, controls 76%, p < .05; cagA -3,-length > 650 bp , cases 47%, controls 0%, p < .002; cag pathogenicity island intact , cases 82%, controls 43%, p < .04; iceA1 , cases 53%, controls 6%, p < .005. cagA was found in all subjects. Conclusion. This study indicates that, in this African population at least, there is no difference in the prevalence of H. pylori infection when comparing gastric cancer cases with matched controls. However, the findings suggest that gastric cancer may be associated with infection by organisms that are genotypically different from those not associated with disease. [source] The HOMER Study: The Effect of Increasing the Dose of Metronidazole When Given with Omeprazole and Amoxicillin to Cure Helicobacter pylori InfectionHELICOBACTER, Issue 4 2000Karna Dev Bardhan Background.Helicobacter pylori eradication with omeprazole, amoxycillin, and metronidazole is both effective and inexpensive. However, eradication rates with different dosages and dosing vary, and data on the impact of resistance are sparse. In this study, three different dosages of omeprazole, amoxycillin, and metronidazole were compared, and the influence of metronidazole resistance on eradication was assessed. Methods. Patients (n = 394) with a positive H. pylori screening test result and endoscopy-proven duodenal ulcer in the past were enrolled into a multicenter study performed in four European countries and Canada. After baseline endoscopy, patients were randomly assigned to treatment for 1 week with either omeprazole, 20 mg twice daily, plus amoxycillin, 1,000 mg twice daily, plus metronidazole, 400 mg twice daily (low M); or omeprazole, 40 mg once daily, plus amoxycillin, 500 mg three times daily, plus metronidazole, 400 mg three times daily (medium M); or omeprazole, 20 mg twice daily, plus amoxycillin, 1,000 mg twice daily, plus metronidazole, 800 mg twice daily (high M). H. pylori status at entry was assessed by a 13C urea breath test and a culture. Eradication was defined as two negative 13C-urea breath test results 4 and 8 weeks after therapy. Susceptibility testing using the agar dilution method was performed at entry and in patients with persistent infection after therapy. Results. The eradication rates, in terms of intention to treat (ITT) (population n = 379) (and 95% confidence interval [CI]) were as follows: low M 76% (68%, 84%), medium M 76% (68%, 84%), and high M 83% (75%, 89%). By per-protocol analysis (population n = 348), the corresponding eradication rates were: low M 81%, medium M 80%, and high M 85%. No H. pylori strains were found to be resistant to amoxycillin. Prestudy resistance of H. pylori strains to metronidazole was found in 72 of 348 (21%) of the cultures at entry (range, 10%,39% in the five countries). The overall eradication rate in prestudy metronidazole-susceptible strains was 232 of 266 (87%) and, for resistant strains, it was 41 of 70 (57%; p < .001). Within each group, the results were as follows (susceptible/resistant): low M, 85%/54%; medium M, 86%/50%; and high M, 90%/75%. There were no statistically significant differences among the treatment groups. 23 strains susceptible to metronidazole before treatment were recultured after therapy failed; 20 of these had now developed resistance. Conclusions.H. pylori eradication rates were similar (approximately 80%) with all three regimens. Metronidazole resistance reduced efficacy; increasing the dose of metronidazole appeared not to overcome the problem or significantly improve the outcome. Treatment failure was generally associated with either prestudy or acquired metronidazole resistance. These findings are of importance when attempting H. pylori eradication in communities with high levels of metronidazole resistance. [source] Erythrocyte Lewis (A+B,) host phenotype is a factor with familial clustering for increased risk of Helicobacter pylori -related non-cardiac gastric cancerJOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY, Issue 6 2006MING-JEN SHEU Abstract Background:, The purpose of the present study was to test whether host erythrocyte Lewis phenotypes correlated with the risk of gastric cancers. Because of the association of gastric cancer with familial clustering, cancer relatives were investigated as to whether they had unique distribution of Lewis phenotypes. Methods:, The study prospectively enrolled 74 Helicobacter pylori -positive gastric cancer patients and 100 H. pylori -positive duodenal ulcer patients to serve as non-cancer controls after panendoscopy. In addition, 433 family members from the 74 index cancer and 100 non-cancer control patients were enrolled. All enrolled cases were checked for their H. pylori status and erythrocyte Lewis phenotypes, defined as Lea,b,, Lea,b+, Lea+b,, and Lea+b+ subtypes by the anti-Lea and anti-Leb monoclonal antibodies. Results:, These H. pylori -infected patients with gastric cancer had a higher rate of Lea+b, phenotype and a lower rate of Lea,b+ phenotype than the non-cancer duodenal ulcer controls (20.3% vs 9%; 51.4% vs 72%, P < 0.05). Among these H. pylori -infected patients, the risk of the patients with Lea+b, phenotype having gastric cancer was 3.15-fold higher as compared with those with the Lea,b+ phenotype (P = 0.02, 95% confidence interval: 1.26,7.87). The offspring and cousins of the cancer patients had a higher rate of Lea+b, phenotype as compared to either that of the spouses of cancer index patients or to that of the family members of the non-cancer control (P < 0.05). Conclusion:, Lea+b, phenotype of the H. pylori -infected host could be a risk factor (with familial clustering) for gastric carcinogenesis. [source] Chronic Atrophic Gastritis and Metachronous Gastric Cancer in Japanese Alcoholic Men With Esophageal Squamous Cell CarcinomaALCOHOLISM, Issue 5 2009Akira Yokoyama Background:, The risk of metachronous gastric cancer is high in Japanese with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), especially in alcoholic men, suggesting a common background underlying the gastric and esophageal cancers. Methods:, Endoscopic follow-up ranging from 7 to 160 months (median, 47 months) after the initial diagnosis was performed in 99 Japanese gastric-cancer-free alcoholic men (56.8 ± 6.4 years) with esophageal SCC detected by an endoscopic screening examination. Chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) assessed by the serum pepsinogen test and Helicobacter pylori status was compared between 90 of the 99 esophageal SCC cases and 180 age-matched Japanese gastric- and esophageal-cancer-free alcoholic men. Results:, The serum pepsinogen test showed a higher seroprevalence of severe CAG among the cases than among the age-matched controls (35.4% vs. 14.2% for H. pylori -seropositive, 71.4% vs. 7.7% for H. pylori -indeterminate, and 17.1% vs. 9.8% for H. pylori -negative, respectively; H. pylori status-adjusted p = 0.0008), whereas their H. pylori status was similar. The accelerated progression of severe CAG observed in the Japanese alcoholic men with esophageal SCC suggests the existence of common mechanisms by which both esophageal SCC and H. pylori -related severe CAG develop in this population. Metachronous gastric adenocarcinoma was diagnosed in 11 of the 99 gastric-cancer-free patients, and the cumulative rate of metachronous gastric cancer within 5 years was estimated to be 15% according to the Kaplan,Meier method. The age-adjusted hazard ratios were 7.87 (95% confidence interval: 1.43 to 43.46) and 4.84 (1.16 to 20.21), respectively, in the patients with severe CAG in comparison with those without CAG and those without severe CAG. Inactive heterozygous aldehyde dehydrogenase-2, a very strong risk factor for esophageal SCC in the alcoholics, was not associated with an increased risk of metachronous gastric cancer. Conclusions:, Accelerated development of severe CAG at least partially explained the very high frequency of development of metachronous gastric cancer in this population. [source] Review article: Helicobacter pylori -negative duodenal ulcer diseaseALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 8 2009J. P. GISBERT Aliment Pharmacol Ther,30, 791,815 Summary Background,Helicobacter pylori infection rates in duodenal ulcer (DU) patients may be lower than previously estimated. Aim, To review the real prevalence of H. pylori -negative DUs and its possible causes. Methods, Bibliographical searches in MEDLINE looking for the terms ,H. pylori' and ,duodenal ulcer'. Results, Mean prevalence of H. pylori infection in DU disease, calculated from studies published during the last 10 years including a total of 16 080 patients, was 81%, and this figure was lower (77%) when only the last 5 years were considered. Associations with H. pylori -negative DU were: (1) False negative results of diagnostic methods, (2) NSAID use (21% in studies with <90% infection rate), (3) Complicated DU (bleeding, obstruction, perforation), (4) Smoking, (5) Isolated H. pylori duodenal colonization, (6) Older age, (7) Gastric hypersecretion, (8) Diseases of the duodenal mucosa, (9) Helicobacter,heilmanii' infection and (10) Concomitant diseases. Conclusion, In patients with H. pylori -negative DU disease, one should carefully confirm that the assessment of H. pylori status is reliable. In truly H. pylori -negative patients, the most common single cause of DU is, by far, the use of NSAIDs. Ulcers not associated with H. pylori, NSAIDs or other obvious causes should, for the present, be viewed as ,idiopathic'. True idiopathic DU disease only exceptionally exists. [source] Clinical trial: factors associated with resolution of heartburn in patients with reflux oesophagitis , results from the EXPO studyALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 9 2009J. LABENZ Summary Background, The ability to predict symptom response to reflux oesophagitis-healing therapy may optimize treatment decisions. Aim, To identify factors associated with heartburn resolution in patients receiving acid-suppressive therapy for reflux oesophagitis. Methods, In this multicentre, randomized, double-blind trial (EXPO; AstraZeneca study code: SH-NEG-0008), patients with endoscopically confirmed reflux oesophagitis and reflux symptoms received once-daily proton pump inhibitor therapy [esomeprazole 40 mg (n = 1562) or pantoprazole 40 mg (n = 1589)] for ,4 weeks. Factors associated with heartburn resolution after 4 weeks were identified by multiple logistic regression analysis. Results, Esomeprazole therapy, positive Helicobacter pylori status and greater age were associated with an increased likelihood of heartburn resolution [odds ratio (95% confidence interval): 1.31 (1.12, 1.54), 1.44 (1.19, 1.74) and 1.013 (1.007, 1.019) per year, respectively; all P < 0.001]. Men and patients with no acid regurgitation or epigastric pain pre-treatment were also more likely to achieve heartburn resolution (all P < 0.05). Conclusions, The use of esomeprazole rather than pantoprazole increases the probability of achieving resolution of heartburn during reflux oesophagitis-healing therapy. Other factors, including H. pylori status, age, gender and symptom profile may be helpful in determining the likelihood of heartburn resolution in such patients. [source] Serum gastrin and pepsinogens do not correlate with the different grades of severity of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease: a matched case,control studyALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 4 2008K. MONKEMULLER Summary Background, Gastrin and pepsinogens reflect the functional state of the gastric mucosa. Aim, To evaluate whether serum gastrin and pepsinogens correlate with the different grades of severity of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Methods, In all, 388 patients with heartburn not taking any form of acid suppressive therapy were matched-controlled for age and gender and sub-classified into four groups: group 1 non-erosive reflux disease (NERD); group 2, erosive reflux disease (ERD) Los Angeles (LA) A and B, group 3, ERD LA C and D; group 4 Barrett's oesophagus (BO). Fasting serum was analysed for gastrin 17, pepsinogen I, pepsinogen II und Helicobacter pylori using specific EIA tests (GastroPanel; Biohit, Plc). Statistics: Kruskal,Wallis test and analysis of variance. Results, There was a significant difference among the four groups with respect for pepsinogen I, but not for pepsinogen II, the pepsinogen I pepsinogen II ratio, H. pylori serology and gastrin levels. Pepsinogen I was the lowest in NERD and the highest in BO (median 91.6, mean ± standard deviation 106.2 ± 51.6 vs. median 114.7, mean ± standard deviation 130.4 ± 70.6; P = 0.046). Pepsinogen I levels were higher in H. pylori positive subjects. After adjusting for H. pylori status, the differences in pepsinogen I across patient groups were no longer statistically significant (P = 0.298). Conclusions, Serum gastrin and pepsinogen I and II do not correlate with the different grades of severity of GERD. The non-invasive GastroPanel is not useful for the differentiation of the various forms of GERD. [source] Lactobacillus reuteri therapy to reduce side-effects during anti- Helicobacter pylori treatment in children: a randomized placebo controlled trialALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 10 2006E. LIONETTI Summary Background Helicobacter pylori eradication fails in about 25,30% of children, particularly because of the occurrence of resistance to antibiotics and side-effects. Aim To determine whether adding the Lactobacillus reuteri to an anti- H. pylori regimen could help to prevent or minimize the gastrointestinal side-effects burden in children. Methods Forty H. pylori -positive children (21 males; median age: 12.3 years) were consecutively treated with 10-day sequential therapy [omeprazole + amoxycillin for 5 days, and omeprazole + clarithromycin + tinidazole for other 5 days] and blindly randomized to receive either L. reuteri ATCC 55730 (108 CFU) or placebo. All children completed the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) at entry, during and after treatment. H. pylori status was assessed after 8 weeks by 13C-urea breath test. Results Overall, in all probiotic supplemented children when compared with those receiving placebo there was a significant reduction of GSRS score during eradication therapy (4.1 ± 2 vs. 6.2 ± 3; P < 0.01) and at the end of follow-up (3.2 ± 2 vs. 5.8 ± 3.4; P < 0.009). Overall, children receiving L. reuteri report less symptoms than those receiving placebo. Conclusion L. reuteri is capable of reducing frequency and intensity of antibiotic-associated side-effects during eradication therapy for H. pylori. [source] Lansoprazole, levofloxacin and amoxicillin triple therapy vs. quadruple therapy as second-line treatment of resistant Helicobacter pylori infectionALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 3 2006W. M. WONG Summary Aim To test the efficacy of levofloxacin-based second-line therapy for resistant Helicobacter pylori infection. Methods One hundred and six patients who failed H. pylori eradication were randomized to receive (i) lansoprazole 30 mg, amoxicillin 1 g, levofloxacin 500 mg, all given twice daily for 7 days (LAL); or (ii) lansoprazole 30 mg twice daily, metronidazole 400 mg thrice daily, bismuth subcitrate 120 mg and tetracycline 500 mg four times daily for 7 days (quadruple). Post-treatment H. pylori status was determined by 13C-urea breath test. Results Intention-to-treat and per-protocol H. pylori eradication rates were 57/60% for the LAL group and 71/76% for the quadruple group respectively. Metronidazole, clarithromycin, amoxicillin and levofloxacin resistance were found in 76%, 71%, 0% and 18% of patients, respectively. Levofloxacin resistance led to treatment failure in the LAL group. For patients with dual resistance to metronidazole and clarithromycin, the eradication rates were 79% in the LAL group (levofloxacin-sensitive) and 65% in the quadruple group (P = 0.34). Conclusion Lansoprazole, amoxicillin plus levofloxacin second-line therapy is comparable with quadruple therapy in efficacy. Subjects, especially those with dual resistance to metronidazole and clarithromycin, may consider levofloxacin-based therapy for levofloxacin-sensitive strains. [source] Is a long-term ranitidine-based triple therapy against Helicobacter pylori only a heritage of the past?ALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 4 2005A prospective, randomized clinicopharmacological study Summary Background:, Acid suppression plus two antibiotics is currently considered the gold standard anti- Helicobacter pylori treatment, but the effective role of gastric antisecretory drugs is still poorly understood. Aims:, To compare a 14-day ranitidine-based triple regimen against Helicobacter pylori with one based on omeprazole, and to study the influence of antisecretory drugs on metronidazole pharmacokinetics in human plasma. Methods:, A total of 150 dyspeptic H. pylori -infected patients were randomized for ranitidine 300 mg b.d. (RCM group) or omeprazole 20 mg b.d. (OCM group) 14-day triple therapy, with clarithromycin 500 mg b.d. and metronidazole 500 mg b.d. On the eighth day of therapy, metronidazole pharmacokinetics was studied in plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography. The pharmacokinetic parameters (terminal half-life, area under the curve, peak-plasma level, peak time) of metronidazole were computed using standard non-compartmental methods. H. pylori status was monitored before and 4 weeks after the end of therapy by histology, serology and rapid urease test. Results:, On an intention-to-treat basis, eradication rates were 91 and 76% for the RCM and OCM groups respectively (P < 0.02). Significantly different pharmacokinetic parameters of metronidazole were found between the groups: peak-plasma level (P < 0.01) and area under the curve (P < 0.02). Conclusion:, Our results show that the RCM regimen was more effective than that based on OCM and that the antisecretory drugs affected metronidazole availability, increasing the efficacy of ranitidine-based regimens. [source] Moxifloxacin-based strategies for first-line treatment of Helicobacter pylori infectionALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 10 2005E. C. Nista Summary Background :,Standard anti- Helicobacter pylori therapy may not achieve a satisfactory eradication rate. Fluoroquinolones, such as moxifloxacin, are safe and promising agents for H. pylori eradication. Aim :,To compare the efficacy of two 1-week moxifloxacin-based H. pylori eradication regimens with two standard treatments. Methods :,Three hundred and twenty H. pylori -positive subjects were randomized into four groups to receive: moxifloxacin, amoxicillin, esomeprazole (Group MAE); moxifloxacin, tinidazole and esomeprazole (Group MTE); standard triple therapies with clarithromycin, amoxicillin and esomeprazole (Group CAE) or tinidazole (Group CTE) for 7 days. H. pylori status was re-assessed 6 weeks after the end of therapy by 13C urea breath test. Results :,Three hundred and twenty patients completed the efficacy analysis per protocol; H. pylori eradication rate in group MTE was 90% (72 of 80) and 92% (72 of 78), in group MAE was 88% (70 of 80) and 89%, (70 of 79) in Group CAE was 73% (58 of 80) and 78% (58 of 74), and in Group CTE was 75% (60 of 80) and 79% (60 of 76), respectively, in intention-to-treat and in per protocol analyses. Eradication rates of moxifloxacin-based triple therapies were significantly higher than that observed using standard triple schemes. The incidence of side effects was significantly lower in moxifloxacin groups than in control groups. Conclusions :,Seven-day moxifloxacin-based triple therapies provide optimal eradication rates with a good compliance when compared with the standard triple therapy schemes. [source] Atrophic gastritis as a cause of hyperhomocysteinaemiaALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 1 2004L. Santarelli Summary Background :,Hyperhomocysteinaemia is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis. It is often related to low levels of vitamin B12 and/or folate, enzymatic co-factors of methionine metabolism. Atrophic gastritis, often caused by Helicobacter pylori infection, may impair vitamin absorption. Aim :,To assess whether the presence of atrophic gastritis is associated with hyperhomocysteinaemia via deficiency of its vitamin co-factors. Methods :,Thirty-one patients with atrophic gastritis were recruited. The control group consisted of 28 patients with non-atrophic gastritis, matched with patients for sex, age and body mass index. The presence and degree of gastric atrophy were assessed by histology. H. pylori infection was assessed by histology/serology. Blood samples were collected for the measurement of homocysteine, vitamin B12 and folates. Results :,Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that atrophic gastritis (odds ratio, 5.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.23,25.26; ,2 = 5.2; P = 0.01) and low vitamin B12 (odds ratio, 3.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.03,22.08; ,2 = 3.6; P < 0.05) were both predictors of hyperhomocysteinaemia. None of the other variables considered in the analysis, including H. pylori status, showed a significant association with hyperhomocysteinaemia. Conclusions :,The present study suggests that atrophic gastritis, rather than H. pylori infection per se, may be a contributing factor to hyperhomocysteinaemia, possibly via vitamin B12 malabsorption. [source] Effectiveness of Helicobacter pylori eradication treatments in a primary care setting in ItalyALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 7 2002P. Della Monica To evaluate the choice and relative effectiveness of Helicobacter pylori eradication regimens in a primary care setting. Patients and methods: Patients referred to our department, who had been treated for H. pylori infection during the preceding 6 months, were enrolled between September 1998 and July 1999. H. pylori status was assessed by urea breath test. Information on the drugs administered, compliance and side-effects was recorded. Results: The mean eradication rate was 72% in patients receiving their first course of treatment (1863 cases; 45% male; mean age, 53 ± 14 years); a double therapy regimen was prescribed to 14% of patients, triple therapy to 85% and quadruple therapy to 1%. Maastricht Consensus proton pump inhibitor-based regimens were prescribed in 80% of cases, with a mean eradication rate of 73%. No statistically significant correlation was found between eradication failure and sex, age, endoscopic findings or administered treatment. Conclusions: In Italy, in a primary care setting, first-line H. pylori eradication therapies reflect international guidelines. The efficacy of such regimens is lower than that reported by controlled trials. These results are relevant when making pharmacoeconomic evaluations of H. pylori management. [source] The cost-effectiveness of population Helicobacter pylori screening and treatment: a Markov model using economic data from a randomized controlled trialALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 3 2002J. Mason Background: Economic models have suggested that population Helicobacter pylori screening and treatment may be a cost-effective method of reducing mortality from gastric cancer. These models are conservative as they do not consider that the programme may reduce health service peptic ulcer and other dyspepsia costs. We have evaluated the economic impact of population H. pylori screening and treatment over 2 years in a randomized controlled trial and have incorporated the results into an economic model exploring the impact of H. pylori eradication on peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer. Methods: Subjects between the ages of 40 and 49 years were randomly invited to attend their local primary care centre. H. pylori status was evaluated by 13C-urea breath test and infected individuals were randomized to receive omeprazole, 20 mg b.d., clarithromycin, 250 mg b.d., and tinidazole, 500 mg b.d., for 7 days or identical placebos. Economic data on health service costs for dyspepsia were obtained from a primary care note review for the 2 years following randomization. These data were incorporated into a Markov model comparing population H. pylori screening and treatment with no intervention. Results: A total of 2329 of 8407 subjects were H. pylori positive: 1161 were randomized to receive eradication therapy and 1163 to receive placebo. The cost difference favoured the intervention group 2 years after randomization, but this did not reach statistical significance (£11.42 per subject cost saving; 95% confidence interval, £30.04 to , £7.19; P=0.23). Analysis by gender suggested a statistically significant dyspepsia cost saving in men (£27.17 per subject; 95% confidence interval, £50.01 to £4.32; P=0.02), with no benefit in women (, £4.46 per subject; 95% confidence interval, , £33.85 to £24.93). Modelling of these data suggested that population H. pylori screening and treatment for 1 000 000 45-year-olds would save over £6 000 000 and 1300 years of life. The programme would cost £14 200 per life year saved if the health service dyspepsia cost savings were the lower limit of the 95% confidence intervals and H. pylori eradication had only a 10% efficacy in reducing mortality from distal gastric cancer and peptic ulcer disease. Conclusions: Modelling suggests that population H. pylori screening and treatment are likely to be cost-effective and could be the first cost-neutral screening programme. This provides a further mandate for clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy of population H. pylori screening and treatment in preventing mortality from gastric cancer and peptic ulcer disease. [source] Low-dose lansoprazole and clarithromycin plus metronidazole vs. full-dose lansoprazole and clarithromycin plus amoxicillin for eradication of Helicobacter pylori infectionALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 1 2002F. Bazzoli To compare, in a randomized controlled trial, the efficacy and tolerability of two 1-week triple therapies for Helicobacter pylori eradication. Methods: One hundred and thirty-four consecutive patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia and H. pylori infection were randomized to receive lansoprazole 30 mg once daily, clarithromycin 250 mg twice daily, and metronidazole 500 mg twice daily (LCM group), or lansoprazole 30 mg twice daily, clarithromycin 500 mg twice daily, and amoxicillin 1000 mg twice daily (LCA group). H. pylori status was assessed by rapid urease test, histology and 13C-urea breath test before and after therapy. Results: At 3 months, H. pylori eradication (intention- to-treat/per protocol analysis) was 92.4%/93.8% in the LCM group and 83.1%/85.7% in the LCA group (P=N.S.). Side-effects were more frequently reported in the LCA group (37.9%) than in the LCM group (19.7%) (P < 0.05). Conclusions: In this open, randomized controlled trial, eradication of H. pylori by low-dose lansoprazole and clarithromycin plus metronidazole was higher with significantly less side-effects than by full-dose lansoprazole and clarithromycin plus amoxicillin. This finding may be related to the stronger synergism of clarithromycin plus metronidazole, even at lower doses, than of clarithromycin plus amoxicillin. Considering the lower cost as well, LCM should be preferred to LCA in the eradication of H. pylori. [source] Dysfunction of oesophageal motility in Helicobacter pylori -infected patients with reflux oesophagitisALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 12 2001J. C. Y. Wu Background: Helicobacter pylori infection has been suggested to be protective against gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. However, a significant proportion of patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease are infected by H. pylori. Aim: To study oesophageal motor function in H. pylori -infected patients with reflux oesophagitis. Methods: Patients with erosive reflux oesophagitis were recruited prospectively for stationary oesophageal manometry and 24-h ambulatory oesophageal pH monitoring. H. pylori status was determined by biopsy urease test. Non-reflux volunteers were recruited as controls. Results: Seventy-four patients with erosive oesophagitis (34 H. pylori -positive, 40 H. pylori -negative) and 48 non-reflux patient controls (22 H. pylori -positive, 26 H. pylori -negative) were recruited. There was no difference in severity of oesophagitis (median grade, 1; P=0.53) or oesophageal acid exposure (total percentage time oesophageal pH < 4, 7.6% vs. 6.8%; P=0.57) between H. pylori -positive and H. pylori -negative groups. Compared to H. pylori -negative patients, H. pylori -positive patients had significantly lower basal lower oesophageal sphincter pressure (12.2 mmHg vs. 15.3 mmHg; P=0.03) and amplitude of distal peristalsis (56.9 mmHg vs. 68.4 mmHg; P=0.03). Ineffective oesophageal motility (14% vs. 7%; P=0.02) and failed oesophageal peristalsis were also significantly more prevalent in H. pylori -positive patients. Conclusions: Among patients with a similar degree of reflux oesophagitis, H. pylori -infected patients have more severe oesophageal dysmotility and lower oesophageal sphincter dysfunction. Oesophageal motor dysfunction probably plays a dominant role in the development of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease in patients with H. pylori infection. [source] An evaluation of invasive and non-invasive tests for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection in ChineseALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 4 2001B. C. Y. Wong Background: Different tests are available for diagnosing Helicobacter pylori infection. Aim: To compare the most commonly used tests either alone or in combination in Chinese patients with respect to routine clinical use or research purpose. Methods: A total of 294 consecutive dyspeptic patients without previous H. pylori treatment were recruited. During upper endoscopy, biopsies were taken from the antrum and corpus, for a commercially available CLO-test, an in-house rapid urease test, culture, polymerase chain reaction and histological examination. Patients then received a 13C-urea breath test. The H. pylori status of each patient was determined by a concordance of test results. Results: For routine clinical use, histology (antral plus corpus biopsies) had an accuracy of 100%, whilst the rapid urease test had an accuracy of 99.7%. The 13C-urea breath test was equally reliable, with an accuracy of 94.5%. Combinations of two tests did not confer additional advantage over the most accurate single test. For research purposes, the accuracy of using the criteria of two positives out of three diagnostic tests was 100% and equivocal results were not found. Conclusion: Histology with or without a rapid urease test was highly accurate for routine clinical use. Alternatively, the 13C-urea breath test was an equally reliable non-invasive test. The two positives out of three tests approach was highly reliable in predicting H. pylori status of untreated Chinese patients in a research setting. [source] Pantoprazole, azithromycin and tinidazole: short duration triple therapy for eradication of Helicobacter pylori infectionALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 12 2000C. Calabrese Background: Azithromycin is an acid-stable macrolide that achieves remarkably high concentrations in gastric tissue, persisting above the MIC90 for Helicobacter pylori over a period of 5-days, after a single 500 mg oral dose. Aim: To evaluate and compare the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of two eradicating regimens of pantoprazole, azithromycin and tinidazole. Methods: A total of 100 consecutive symptomatic H. pylori- positive patients received pantoprazole 40 mg b.d. for 1 week, and were randomly assigned to either azithromycin 500 mg o.m. and tinidazole 500 mg b.d. during the first 3 days (early group, n=50) or during the last 3 days of therapy with pantoprazole (late group, n=50). H. pylori status was assessed by histology and rapid urease test at entry and by histology and 13C-urea breath test 1 month after the end of the therapy. Results: Ninety-nine patients completed the study. H. pylori was eradicated in 86% of patients in the early group (intention-to-treat 86%) and in 88% of patients in the late group (intention-to-treat 88%). Conclusions: This short triple therapy is effective for H. pylori eradication. The compliance was excellent and side-effects negligible. Moreover, the pantoprazole pre-treatment did not modify the efficacy of the therapy. [source] Triple therapy with clarithromycin, omeprazole, and amoxicillin for eradication of Helicobacter pylori in duodenal ulcer patients in Asia and AfricaALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 11 2000B. C. Y. Wong Background: Studies assessing the efficacy of triple therapy containing clarithromycin and amoxicillin for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection and healing of duodenal ulcers in Asian and African countries are limited. Aim: To determine the efficacy and safety of 1-week triple therapy with omeprazole, amoxicillin and clarithromycin for eradicating H. pylori infection in patients with active duodenal ulcer living in Asian and African regions. Methods: This was an open-label, multicentre study in 11 centres in Asia and Africa. Patients with endoscopy-proven duodenal ulcer and who were H. pylori -positive were treated with clarithromycin 500 mg, omeprazole 20 mg, and amoxicillin 1000 mg, all given twice daily for 7 days. Upper endoscopy was repeated at week 6 to check for ulcer healing and H. pylori status. Results: A total of 117 patients were recruited. H. pylori eradication rates were 85% by per protocol analysis and 80% by intention-to-treat analysis. Ulcer healing was found in 94% of subjects (per protocol analysis). Clinical success, measured by change of pre-treatment ulcer symptoms, was strongly supported by complete resolution or improvement in 100% of the evaluable patients (per protocol analysis). Since treatment-related adverse events, when present, were largely mild or moderate, the triple therapy regimen was considered safe. Conclusion: Seven-day triple therapy with omeprazole, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin was efficacious for treating Asian and African patients with duodenal ulcer disease associated with H. pylori infection, and the treatment regimen was well-tolerated. [source] A relatively low prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in a healthy paediatric population in Riga, Latvia: a cross-sectional studyACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 10 2001I Daugule The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence, age of acquisition and risk factors for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) among asymptomatic children. 13C-urea breath tests and questionnaires were obtained from 142 children and 40 parents. The prevalence of H. pylori was 19%. H. pylori positivity was higher in children with a positive parent (p= 0.003) and independently inversely related to antibiotic treatment during the previous year in preschool children (p= 0.045). Conclusion: The prevalence of H. pylori in children in Riga is higher than that in Western countries, but lower than that in Eastern European countries. H. pylori is present during the second year of life and is influenced by parental H. pylori status and previous treatment with antibiotics. [source] |