ABSTRACT
AIM: To investigate the predictors of success in step-down of proton pump inhibitor and to assess the quality of life (QOL). METHODS: Patients who had heartburn twice a week or more were treated with 20 mg omeprazole (OPZ) once daily for 8 wk as an initial therapy (study 1). Patients whose heartburn decreased to once a week or less at the end of the initial therapy were enrolled in study 2 and treated with 10 mg OPZ as maintenance therapy for an additional 6 mo (study 2). QOL was investigated using the gastrointestinal symptom rating scale (GSRS) before initial therapy, after both 4 and 8 wk of initial therapy, and at 1, 2, 3, and 6 mo after starting maintenance therapy. RESULTS: In study 1, 108 patients were analyzed. Their characteristics were as follows; median age: 63 (range: 20-88) years, sex: 46 women and 62 men. The success rate of the initial therapy was 76%. In the patients with successful initial therapy, abdominal pain, indigestion and reflux GSRS scores were improved. In study 2, 83 patients were analyzed. Seventy of 83 patients completed the study 2 protocol. In the per-protocol analysis, 80% of 70 patients were successful for step-down. On multivariate analysis of baseline demographic data and clinical information, no previous treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) [odds ratio (OR) 0.255, 95% CI: 0.06-0.98] and a lower indigestion score in GSRS at the beginning of step-down therapy (OR 0.214, 95% CI: 0.06-0.73) were found to be the predictors of successful step-down therapy. The improved GSRS scores by initial therapy were maintained through the step-down therapy. CONCLUSION: OPZ was effective for most GERD patients. However, those who have had previous treatment for GERD and experience dyspepsia before step-down require particular monitoring for relapse.
Subject(s)
Gastroesophageal Reflux/drug therapy , Omeprazole/administration & dosage , Proton Pump Inhibitors/administration & dosage , Abdominal Pain/drug therapy , Abdominal Pain/etiology , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Chi-Square Distribution , Drug Administration Schedule , Dyspepsia/drug therapy , Dyspepsia/etiology , Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal , Female , Gastroesophageal Reflux/complications , Gastroesophageal Reflux/diagnosis , Heartburn/drug therapy , Heartburn/etiology , Humans , Japan , Kaplan-Meier Estimate , Logistic Models , Male , Middle Aged , Odds Ratio , Quality of Life , Recurrence , Risk Assessment , Risk Factors , Time Factors , Treatment Outcome , Young AdultABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: In Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy, using a proton pump inhibitor plus amoxicillin and clarithromycin (PPI/AC regimen), the impact of the clarithromycin dose and smoking on efficacy is conflicting. Here, we compared the efficacy of 400 and 800 mg of clarithromycin in the regimen in relation to smoking in patients with peptic ulcer disease. METHODS: We studied 601 H. pylori-positive patients with peptic ulcer disease who had received amoxicillin 750 mg and clarithromycin 200 or 400 mg together with lansoprazole 30 mg b.i.d. RESULTS: 305 patients were treated with a regimen containing 400 mg of clarithromycin (C400 group), and 296 patients with a regimen containing 800 mg (C800 group). Overall cure rates between the two groups were not significantly different, but the cure rate in the C800 group was significantly better than that in the C400 group among patients infected with clarithromycin-sensitive strains (p = 0.03). This difference could be attributed to differences among smokers versus non-smokers: the cure rate among smokers in the C800 group (91.0%) was better than that in the C400 group (80.0%, p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: 800 mg of clarithromycin is recommended in the PPI/AC regimen for patients who smoke and are infected with clarithromycin-sensitive H. pylori.
