The efficacy of sequential treatment for Helicobacter Pylori eradication.

ABSTRACT

Myanmar is a high prevalence area of H pylori infection with sero-prevalence rate of 69%. The clarithromycin-based triple therapy is commonly used as empiric first line treatment for H pylori infection in Myanmar. However, the efficacy of sequential treatment for Myanmar patients with H pylori infection has not been investigated. The objective of the present study is to determine the efficacy and safety of sequential treatment for Helicobacter pylori eradication in dyspeptic patients. A total of 100 dyspeptic patients aged > 18 years with proved Helicobacter pylori infection were randomly assigned to receive either 10 day sequential therapy or 10 day triple therapy. After completion of treatment, compliance and side effects were assessed. The outcomes of the eradication therapy were assessed 4 weeks after treatment by the 13C urea breath test. The success rate of H pylori eradication between the sequential therapy and the triple therapy was not significant (85.7% Vs 95.1%, p = 0.147). The triple therapy had 66.7% relative risk reduction (RRR), 9.4% absolute risk reduction (ARR) and 11 number need to treat (NNT). The adverse events between two study groups did not differ significantly (23.8% Vs 31.7%, P = 0.422). Good compliance was achieved in all patients of two study population. The result of this study could not prove that the efficacy of sequential treatment was superior to that of triple treatment for H pylori eradication in Myanmar dyspeptic patients.