Efficacy of a tailored PCR-guided triple therapy in the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection

Med Mal Infect. 2020 Sep;50(6):492-499. doi: 10.1016/j.medmal.2019.06.001. Epub 2019 Jun 27.

Abstract

Introduction: Resistance to clarithromycin and fluoroquinolones is increasing in many countries. We aimed to assess the efficacy of a tailored PCR-guided triple therapy versus an empirical triple therapy in the treatment of H. pylori infection.

Patients and methods: French multicenter prospective open-label randomized study to assess H. pylori and resistance to clarithromycin and levofloxacin with GenoType HelicoDR® test. Patients of the control group were treated with empirical therapy of proton pump inhibitor (PPI), amoxicillin, and clarithromycin for 7 days. Patients of the experimental group with clarithromycin-susceptible strains, clarithromycin-resistant/levofloxacin-susceptible strains, and with clarithromycin-resistant/levofloxacin-resistant strains received tailored therapy of PPI, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin for 7 days, PPI, amoxicillin, and levofloxacin for 10 days, and PPI, amoxicillin, and metronidazole for 14 days, respectively. H. pylori eradication was assessed by 13C urea breath test at least 28 days after the end of treatment.

Results: We included 526 patients: 260 (49.4%) were randomly assigned to empirical triple therapy and 266 (50.6%) to tailored therapy. Clarithromycin and levofloxacin resistances were 23.3% and 12.8%, respectively. Follow-up urea breath test was available for 415 (78.9%) patients. Tailored therapy was superior to empirical therapy in terms of eradication (85.5% vs. 73.1%, RR=1.85, 95%CI [1.25-2.78], p=0.003). Findings were consistent in the susceptibility analysis using multiple imputation (RR=1.61, 95%CI [1.14-2.27], P=0.003) and per-protocol analysis (RR=1.89, 95%CI [0.25-2.78], p=0.003).

Conclusion: In a country with a high level of clarithromycin resistance, tailored PCR-guided therapy was superior to empirical triple therapy for H. pylori eradication (https://www.ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01168063).

Keywords: Eradication; Helicobacter pylori; PCR; Resistance; Résistance; Tailored therapy; Thérapie ciblée; Éradication.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Helicobacter Infections / diagnosis
  • Helicobacter Infections / drug therapy*
  • Helicobacter pylori*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Prospective Studies
  • Treatment Outcome

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT01168063