Role of serology in monitoring treatment for Helicobacter pylori infection in elderly patients

Effect and Safety of Helicobacter pylori Eradication Treatment Based on Molecular Pathologic Antibiotic Resistance in Chinese Elderly People

Background

The elderly people generally have poor tolerance to drugs and an increased risk of adverse effects. Our study was designed to determine the effect and safety of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication treatment based on molecular pathologic antibiotic resistance in Chinese elderly people over the age of 60 years.

Methods

A total of 364 people were retrospectively analyzed, including 113 older people over 60 and 251 young and middle-aged people in the age of 20–59 years. Real-time PCR detection and conventional PCR and sequencing method were used for drug susceptibility testing. As the main outcome measure, the eradication rates (ERs) with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were analyzed by intention to treat (ITT) and per protocol (PP). For the safety of therapy, adverse events were analyzed.

Results

For the total people, the resistance rates to clarithromycin (CLR), amoxicillin (AMX), fluoroquinolone (FLQ) and tetracycline (TET) were 65.06%, 7.54%, 61.39% and 20.37%, respectively. After they were divided into two groups, the resistance rates were 62.39% (CLR), 9.09% (AMX), 69.64% (FLQ) and 22.45% (TET) in the 113 older people over 60, and 66.26%, 6.85%, 57.66% and 19.47% in the 251 young and middle-aged people in 20–59. By the ITT analysis, the ERs were 92.04% (95% CI, 86.97–97.10%, n=113) in the older people and 92.43% (95% CI, 89.14–95.73%, n=251) in the young and middle-aged people. By the PP analysis, the ERs were 96.30% (95% CI, 92.68–99.92%, n=108) and 94.69% (95% CI, 91.87–97.52%, n=245), respectively. No significant differences were shown both in the ITT analysis (P=0.896) and in the PP analysis (P=0.517). The three most common adverse events were black stool, dysgeusia and diarrhea, and no serious adverse event was reported.

Conclusion

H. pylori eradication treatment based on molecular pathologic antibiotic resistance showed good effect and safety in Chinese elderly people.

Infection à Helicobacter pylori chez la personne âgée

PURPOSES

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is a chronic gastric Gram-negative infection that increases with age. Acquired in childhood, H. pylori infection may induce a whole cascade of events leading to gastric pathologies such as peptic ulcer diseases, gastric precancerous lesions, and gastric lymphomas (MALT). The characteristics of the diagnosis and the treatment of this infection in geriatrics are thus particularly important to take into account.

MAIN POINTS

1) The incidence of gastric and duodenal ulcers and their bleeding complications is increasing in old-aged populations. Clinical signs such as anorexia and malnutrition are proven to be excellent indications for endoscopic explorations in the elderly. NSAID-use and H. pylori infection were shown to be independent and unrelated risk factors for peptic ulcer and gastroduodenal bleeding in elderly subjects; 2) H. pylori infection diagnosis is difficult to realize in the very old population, and the urea breath test is the test which obtain the best performances in this population.

PERSPECTIVES

Recent work showed the part played by H. pylori chronic infection in gastric aging and in appetite regulation in the elderly. Research tasks should be continued in this field in order to better understand the part played by this chronic infection in gastric aging and in other pathologies (i.e. neurological or cardiovascular diseases) in this population.

What other regimens are under investigation to treat Helicobacter pylori infection?

The most common infection in the world, Helicobacter pylori infection, is very specific, and present experience in treating infectious diseases is not applicable in general for this infection. Animal models (e.g., mouse and ferret) are thus far inadequate as reliable screening models. Old-fashioned trial-and-error treatment of infected humans is still the screening model and the gold standard in the evaluation of regimens aimed at eradication of H. pylori. A variety of studies on treatment of H. pylori infection have been performed with varying results. This pooled analysis of the following therapeutic combinations: proton pump inhibitor (PPI) plus two antibiotics or antimicrobials, quadruple therapies, and nonantibiotic regimens is an attempt to make a fair comparison of tested therapeutic strategies aimed at eradicating H. pylori. Data from treatment groups including specified drug combinations are pooled, regardless of dose or duration. Search methods are: MEDLINE 1984-1996, Digestive Disease Week 1988-1996, United European Gastroenterology Week 1992-1996, European Helicobacter pylori Study Group 1988-1996, Asia Pacific Congress 1996, H. pylori International Workshop Hong Kong 1996, and miscellaneous. Eradication rates (efficacy) are presented as intention-to-treat data (i.e., worst-case analysis). Separate subanalyses with regard to study quality, dose, and duration are performed for some groups. A general cost-efficacy analysis is performed based on pooled efficacy data. Convenience data are presented as total number of tablets, total number of intake occasions, and duration of therapy. Drugs evaluated in the analysis are bismuthdicitrate, tetracycline, amoxicillin, nitroimidazoles, macrolides, H2-receptor antagonists, PPIs, sucralfate, and sofalcone. The most effective and convenient drug combinations are the PPI-based triple therapies. No significant difference was observed between the three PPIs. The cure rate did not improve after addition of bismuth. Cost-effectiveness is closely associated with efficacy.

Pooled analysis of anti-Helicobacter pylori treatment regimens

BACKGROUND

The human pathogen Helicobacter pylori and its association with peptic ulcer has dramatically changed the therapeutic approach to patients with this disease. Successful treatment of the infection has consistently been shown to prevent ulcer recurrence. Published data on therapeutic options are sometimes confusing since only few studies have similar design, drug combinations, dosage, dosing, formulation, patient material, and size. A formal meta-analysis is therefore of limited value.

METHOD

Data on anti-H. pylori therapies from a large number of publications are pooled into a few groups based on the combination of drugs, regardless of dosage, duration, etc., of the therapy. A mean success rate is calculated for all studies with subanalysis with regard to study design, size, doses and duration.

RESULTS

Triple combinations are needed to achieve a success rate of more than 80%. Bismuth/tetracycline based triple therapy gives 82% success rate (range 43-100%) compared to 85% and 87% success rate (range 72-100% and 43-100%) achieved with omeprazole/clarithromycin based triples respectively.

CONCLUSION

Omeprazole/clarithromycin based triple regimens are the most effective anti-H. pylori therapeutic strategies, slightly superior to bismuth triple regimens.