Background and aim: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection
can cause chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, gastric
adenocarcinoma and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue
(MALT) lymphoma. For this reason, eradication of H. pylori has
become an important issue. In recent years, failure of eradication
therapy with standard eradication regimes had directed toward
new therapeutic alternatives. The present study aimed to show
the efficacy of bismuth-containing quadruple regimen for the
first-line treatment of H. pylori infection.
Materials and methods: H. pylori positive patients received a
quadruple therapy consisted of esomeprazole 20 mg bid, colloidal
bismuth subcitrate 600 mg bid, tetracycline 500 mg qid and
metronidazole 500 mg tid for 7 days. The diagnosis of H. pylori
infection was performed by the histopathological assessment of
gastric biopsies. Six weeks after completion of therapy, H. pylori
status was rechecked by C14 urea-breath test.
Results: A total of 115 patients have completed the protocols
(upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, treatment, urea-breath test).
H. pylori eradication rate was found to be 87%. This eradication
rate is significantly higher than those of classic triple therapies
in the literature.
Conclusion: The bismuth-containing quadruple regimen
achieved an acceptable and very higher eradication rate than
those of classic triple therapies in the literature. It can
recommend as a first-line therapy for Helicobacter pylori
infection.