High rate of Helicobacter pylori eradication with sequential therapy in elderly patients with peptic ulcer: a prospective controlled study

Abstract

Background : Helicobacter pylori eradication rates with triple therapies are decreasing, and few data in elderly patients are available. A 10‐day sequential regimen succeeded in curing such H. pylori infection in unselected patients. Aim : To compare this sequential regimen and the standard triple therapy for H. pylori eradication in geriatric patients with peptic ulcer. Methods : Overall, 179 H. pylori‐infected patients with peptic ulcer were enrolled (mean age: 69.5 years; range: 65–83). Patients were randomized to 10‐day sequential therapy (rabeprazole 20 mg b.d. plus amoxicillin 1 g b.d. for the first 5 days, followed by rabeprazole 20 mg, clarithromycin 500 mg and tinidazole 500 mg, all b.d., for the remaining 5 days) or standard 7‐day triple regimen (rabeprazole 20 mg, clarithromycin 500 mg and amoxicillin 1 g, all b.d.). Helicobacter pylori status was assessed by histology and rapid urease test at baseline and 4–6 weeks after completion of treatment. Results : The sequential regimen achieved eradication rates significantly higher in comparison with the standard regimen at both intention‐to‐treat (94% vs. 80%; P = 0.008) and per‐protocol (97% vs. 83%; P = 0.006) analyses. In both treatment groups, compliance to the therapy was high (>95%), and the rate of mild side‐effects was similarly low (<12%). At repeated upper endoscopy, peptic ulcer lesions were healed in 97% patients, without a statistically significant difference between the sequential regimen and the standard triple therapy. Conclusions : In elderly patients with peptic ulcer disease, the 10‐day sequential treatment regimen achieved significantly higher eradication rates in comparison with standard triple therapy.