[Evolution of the response to the first-line therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection in Uruguay]. / Evolución de la respuesta al tratamiento de primera línea de la infección por Helicobacter pylori en Uruguay.

INTRODUCTION: The eradication rate of the Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection using standard triple therapy has dropped globally in recent years, primarily due to the occurrence of antibiotic resistance. METHODS: Several therapy regimens were assessed in 823 patients treated the first time for H pylori infection in Uruguay, during the 1997 to 2011 period, divided into five-year groups. All patients underwent 13C isotope-urea breath testing, between the 8th and 24th weeks after therapy. The standard triple plan (amoxicillin, clarithromycin and proton pump inhibitors) was the most commonly used (86.8%). RESULTS: The overall eradication rate was 66.6% (548 patients). With the standard triple plan, the reported eradication rates were 75% for the first 5-year term and 70.1% for the second 5-year term. The difference between these two periods was not statistically significant (P = 0.201). However, in the last term the eradication rate further declined to 62.4%, with a statistically significant difference (P = 0.014). No significant correlations were found between the response to therapy in this population and either the use of alcohol and/or yerba mate or the smoking habits. CONCLUSIONS: In Uruguay, the eradication rate of H pylori infection has dropped in the last five years and is below the internationally accepted levels. This feature demands searching for more effective alternative therapies, adapting the management to the national reality based on local antibiotic resistance patterns and drug availability.

Evolución de la respuesta al tratamiento de primera línea de la infección por Helicobacter pylori en Uruguay. / [Evolution of the response to the first-line therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection in Uruguay].

INTRODUCTION: The eradication rate of the Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection using standard triple therapy has dropped globally in recent years, primarily due to the occurrence of antibiotic resistance. METHODS: Several therapy regimens were assessed in 823 patients treated the first time for H pylori infection in Uruguay, during the 1997 to 2011 period, divided into five-year groups. All patients underwent 13C isotope-urea breath testing, between the 8th and 24th weeks after therapy. The standard triple plan (amoxicillin, clarithromycin and proton pump inhibitors) was the most commonly used (86.8

). RESULTS: The overall eradication rate was 66.6

(548 patients). With the standard triple plan, the reported eradication rates were 75

for the first 5-year term and 70.1

for the second 5-year term. The difference between these two periods was not statistically significant (P = 0.201). However, in the last term the eradication rate further declined to 62.4

, with a statistically significant difference (P = 0.014). No significant correlations were found between the response to therapy in this population and either the use of alcohol and/or yerba mate or the smoking habits. CONCLUSIONS: In Uruguay, the eradication rate of H pylori infection has dropped in the last five years and is below the internationally accepted levels. This feature demands searching for more effective alternative therapies, adapting the management to the national reality based on local antibiotic resistance patterns and drug availability.

Evolución de la respuesta al tratamiento de primera línea de la infección por Helicobacter pylori en Uruguay / [Evolution of the response to the first-line therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection in Uruguay].

INTRODUCTION: The eradication rate of the Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection using standard triple therapy has dropped globally in recent years, primarily due to the occurrence of antibiotic resistance. METHODS: Several therapy regimens were assessed in 823 patients treated the first time for H pylori infection in Uruguay, during the 1997 to 2011 period, divided into five-year groups. All patients underwent 13C isotope-urea breath testing, between the 8th and 24th weeks after therapy. The standard triple plan (amoxicillin, clarithromycin and proton pump inhibitors) was the most commonly used (86.8

(548 patients). With the standard triple plan, the reported eradication rates were 75

for the first 5-year term and 70.1

for the second 5-year term. The difference between these two periods was not statistically significant (P = 0.201). However, in the last term the eradication rate further declined to 62.4

, with a statistically significant difference (P = 0.014). No significant correlations were found between the response to therapy in this population and either the use of alcohol and/or yerba mate or the smoking habits. CONCLUSIONS: In Uruguay, the eradication rate of H pylori infection has dropped in the last five years and is below the internationally accepted levels. This feature demands searching for more effective alternative therapies, adapting the management to the national reality based on local antibiotic resistance patterns and drug availability.

Incidence of inflammatory bowel disease in five geographical areas of Uruguay in the biennial 2007-2008.

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is different according to the geographical areas. No data on the incidence of IBD in Uruguay are available. OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of IBD, ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), in five areas of Uruguay and to compare the results with those from other geographical regions. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A prospective study was performed in five areas of Uruguay during 2007-2008. The study population included 645,695 inhabitants. Multiple independent sources were used for the uptake of cases. Patients older than 14 years and living in the selected areas were included only after reviewing their medical history. Confirmed IBD was defined by a standard protocol after one year of follow up. RESULTS: A total of 34 cases were diagnosed in the study period, 29 UC and 5 CD. Crude incidence rate for IBD was 2.63 per 100,000 inhabitants/year, 2.25 and 0.39 for UC and CD, respectively. Adjusted rates were 4.26 per 100,000 inhabitants/year for UC and 0.74 per 100,000 inhabitants/year for CD. The UC/CD ratio was 5.8. The average age for IBD was 40.7 years. No statistically significant differences were found between UC and CD by age (P = 0.267) or gender (P = 0.489). CONCLUSIONS: Incidence rates of IBD place Uruguay in the regions of low incidence. As it has been described in low-incidence countries, UC is more common than CD. This study establishes a precedent to follow the evolution of IBD epidemiology in Uruguay.