Efficacy of short‐course lansoprazole with clarithromycin and amoxicillin in the eradication of Helicobacter pylori in South‐East Asian patients: 5‐day t.d.s. versus 7‐day b.d. treatment regimens

OBJECTIVE: To determine and compare the efficacy of 5-day t.d.s and 7-day b.d. treatment regimens comprising lansoprazole, clarithromycin and amoxicillin in the eradication of Helicobacter pylori. METHODS: Patients with unequivocal evidence of H. pylori infection based on histology and rapid urease tests of both antrum and corpus biopsies were recruited for the study. The study was a randomized, investigator-blind, comparative study. Patients received either 500 mg clarithromycin t.d.s. and 500 mg amoxicillin t.d.s. for 5 days (LAC5) or 500 mg clarithromycin b.d. and 500 mg amoxicillin b.d. for 7 days (LAC7) together with 30 mg lansoprazole (both groups) daily for either 5 or 7 days, depending on the treatment group. Patients were assessed for the successful eradication of H. pylori, defined as the absence of bacteria based on histology and urease tests on both antral and corporeal biopsies, carried out at least 4 weeks after completion of the therapy. RESULTS: One hundred and eight patients were recruited for the study. In the LAC5 treatment group, four patients failed to return for follow up and in the LAC7 group, two failed to return for follow up and two were not compliant with medications. Eradication rates based on an intention-to-treat analysis were: 46/54 for LAC5 (85.2%; 95% CI = 72.9–93.4) and 47/54 for LAC7 (87.0%; 95% CI = 75.1–94.6). Based on a per protocol analysis, the rates were: 46/50 for LAC5 (92.0%; 95% CI = 80.8–97.8) and 47/50 for LAC7 (94.0%; 95% CI = 83.5–98.7). Both treatment regimens were convenient for patients and except for two patients in the LAC7 group, all patients reported taking 100% of all prescribed medications. The side-effects encountered were uniformly mild and no patient discontinued treatment because of intolerance to medications. The most common side-effects were altered taste (LAC5 64.7%; LAC7 78.8%). Diarrhea, nausea and anorexia were reported in a minority of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Both the LAC5 t.d.s. and the LAC7 b.d. treatment regimens were well tolerated by patients and were highly effective in the eradication of H. pylori.