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X Calvet

Publications and source records attributed to X Calvet.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Usefulness of a delayed test for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection in bleeding peptic ulcer.

AIM: To evaluate (i) the diagnostic usefulness of a delayed test in initially negative patients; and (ii) the reliability of the rapid urease test, histology or a combination of the two to diagnose Helicobacter pylori during emergency endoscopy in a large clinical practice series. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Records of patients with ulcer bleeding from 1995 to 2000 were reviewed. Patients with initially negative tests were retested 4-8 weeks after the bleeding episode. Sensitivity of urease, histology or a combination of the two to detect H. pylori at initial endoscopy and the efficacy of delayed Urea Breath Test in detecting missed infection was determined. RESULTS: The study included 429 patients. A delayed second test detected H. pylori infection in 57 out of 72 (79%) of initially negative patients. The sensitivity for detecting H. pylori was 76%, 78% and 86% for urease, histology and their combination, respectively. The prevalence of H. pylori was 95% in duodenal and 88% in gastric ulcer. In addition, only one test was performed in 17 of the 32 patients who were considered negative. CONCLUSION: Not even the combination of a negative urease and histology in the initial endoscopy is able to rule out infection in bleeding ulcer patients. A delayed test should be performed to rule out Helicobacter pylori infection completely.

Adult↗

[Helicobacter pylori does not contribute to iron deficiency in hemodialysis patients].

BACKGROUND: Many studies in the general population have shown a link between Helicobacter pylori infection and iron-deficiency, often resulting in iron-deficient anaemia. Despite the high prevalence of iron deficiency in hemodialysis patients, no studies have been performed in this population. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of Helicobacter pylori infection in the appearance of anemia and the iron requirements in our hemodialysis population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: After excluding patients with severe pathology and short life expectancy and those with blood losses secondary to other causes, 79 patients were included.Iron requirements and anaemia were determined by iron serum, ferritin, and hematocrit values; and by transfusion, eritropoietin and iron requirements. The diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori status was established by the concordance of at least two of the three non invasive diagnostic methods performed (breath test, serology and fecal antigen of Helicobacter pylori). RESULTS: Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection was 43%. No significant differences between patients infected or not by Helicobacter pylori were found in any of the variables analysed: hematocrit (33.5% versus 34.1%), serum iron (58.9 versus 63.7 pg/dl), ferritin(340.3 versus 264.2 ng/ml), transferrin saturation index (22.5% versus 25.2%), dose of eritropoietin administered (96.6 versus 93.5 U/kg/weekly), and parenteral iron (1,389 versus 1,538 mg/year). A noteworthy finding was that patients with Helicobacter pylori infection had been on hemodialysis for a shorter period than those without (37.4 versus 63.7 months,p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Helicobacter pylori infection has no effect on anaemia (hematocrit, Eritropoietin dose or iron needs) in our hemodialysis patients. Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori is lower in patients with longer time on dialysis. We consider that the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection must be reserved for clinical peptic ulcer suspicion or patients on transplant waiting list.

Aged↗

Meta-analysis: role of Helicobacter pylori eradication in the prevention of peptic ulcer in NSAID users.

AIM: To evaluate whether eradication of Helicobacter pylori prevents peptic ulcer in non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug users by means of a meta-analysis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A systematic search was performed in MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register and the AGA congress. Randomized trials comparing H. pylori eradication vs. non-eradication or eradication vs. a proton pump inhibitor in patients receiving a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug were selected. RESULTS: Five studies and 939 patients were included in the analysis; 34 of 459 (7.4%) patients developed a peptic ulcer in the eradicated group vs. 64 of 480 (13.3%) in the control group. The odds ratio was 0.43 (95% confidence interval: 0.20-0.93). Sub-analyses showed a significant reduction of risk for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug-naive (odds ratio = 0.26; 95% confidence interval: 0.14-0.49) but not for previously treated patients (odds ratio = 0.95, 95% confidence interval: 0.53-1.72). Two studies with a total of 385 patients compared eradication vs. a proton pump inhibitor; five of 196 (2.6%) developed a peptic ulcer in the eradicated group vs. zero of 189 (0%) in the proton pump inhibitor group (odds ratio = 7.43; 95% confidence interval: 1.27-43.6). CONCLUSION: Helicobacter pylori eradication reduces the incidence of peptic ulcer in the overall population receiving non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. It appears to be especially effective when performed in non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug-naïve patients. Nonetheless, eradication seems less effective than treatment with a maintenance proton pump inhibitor for preventing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug-associated ulcers.

Amoxicillin↗

7-day rescue therapy with ranitidine bismuth citrate after Helicobacter pylori treatment failure.

BACKGROUND: Quadruple rescue therapy requires a complex scheme with four drugs. AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of ranitidine bismuth citrate-tetracycline-metronidazole rescue regimen, and to compare two different metronidazole dose schemes. METHODS: Prospective multicentre study including proton-pump inhibitor + clarithromycin + amoxicillin failures. Rescue regimen included two 7-day treatment: (i) ranitidine bismuth citrate (400 mg b.d.)-tetracycline (500 mg q.d.s.)-metronidazole (500 mg t.d.s.; RTM1); or (ii) the same regimen but with metronidazole 250 mg q.d.s. (RTM2). Eradication was confirmed with (13)C-urea breath test. RESULTS: A total of 150 patients were included (58 RTM1, 92 RTM2). All patients but two (one in each group) returned after treatment. About 86% in group RTM1 and 95% in RTM2 correctly took all the medications (P = 0.076). Per-protocol eradication rates with RTM1 and RTM2 were 74 (95% CI: 60-84) and 69% (59-78). The intention-to-treat eradication rates were 64 (51-75) and 70% (59-78; P > 0.05). The type of regimen was not associated with eradication in the multivariate analysis. Adverse effects were more frequent with RTM1 (41%) than with RTM2 (30%; P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Seven-day triple rescue therapy with ranitidine bismuth citrate-tetracycline-metronidazole is effective for Helicobacter pylori eradication, and represents an encouraging alternative to quadruple therapy, with the advantage of simplicity. The administration of metronidazole every 6 h (together with tetracycline), and at a low dose (250 mg), achieves similar efficacy and is probably associated with a better compliance and a lower incidence of adverse effects.

Adult↗

Seven versus ten days of rabeprazole triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication: a multicenter randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Ten-day triple therapy is somewhat more effective than 7-day treatment for curing Helicobacter pylori infection. Recent studies have suggested that rabeprazole-a proton pump inhibitor with fast onset of acid inhibition-could raise the efficacy of 7-day therapies to the levels obtained with 10-day treatment. OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of 7- and 10-day rabeprazole-based triple therapy for H. pylori eradication. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Four hundred and fifty-eight patients were randomized to 7 or 10 days of triple therapy, including rabeprazole 20 mg, clarithromycin 500 mg, and amoxicillin 1 g, all twice a day. Cure rates were evaluated by urea breath test. RESULTS: Two hundred and thirty-seven patients received 7-day and 221 received 10-day therapy. Groups were comparable in terms of demographic variables. Intention to treat cure rates were 73.8% (95% CI: 67-79%) for 7-day and 79.6% (95%: CI:74-85%) for 10-day therapy (p= 0.09). Per-protocol cure rates were 81.8% (95% CI:76-86%) and 89.3% (95% CI: 84-93%), p= 0.02, respectively. Cure rates were similar in peptic ulcer patients but in subjects without ulcer they were clearly lower for 7-day therapy: 66%versus 77% by intention to treat (p= 0.08) and 73%versus 91% in the per-protocol analysis (p= 0.004). Side effects and compliance in the two groups were comparable. CONCLUSIONS: Seven- and 10-day triple therapies seem equally efficient in peptic ulcer patients. In contrast, 7-day therapy is significantly less effective in nonulcer dyspepsia patients. Ten-day therapy, therefore, seems preferable when treating nonulcer patients.

2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles↗

[Cecal cytomegalovirus infection following appendicectomy in a patient with ulcerative colitis].

We report a patient who, 3 months after being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, was admitted to hospital because of malaise and right lower abdominal pain. An open appendectomy was performed. Histological study showed ulcerative colitis affecting the appendix. After surgery, the patient presented a refractory outbreak of ulcerative colitis requiring treatment with steroids and cyclosporin A. Despite this treatment, the patient continued to pass abundant fresh blood associated with severe anemia. Colonoscopy showed only granular and congestive cecal mucosa. Biopsies showed intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies with immunohistochemical stains positive for cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. Rectorrhagia and anemia quickly disappeared after beginning treatment with ganciclovir. Appendicular ulcerative colitis is not uncommonly associated with distal colitis. In addition, diffuse CMV infection complicating ulcerative colitis treatment is not unusual. By contrast, isolated, segmentary infection by CMV in the proximal colon is extremely rare. Until now, only three patients with localized CMV infection have been described, and all three cases occurred in the context of ileoanal anastomosis.

Adult↗

Evaluation of three different tests for the detection of stool antigens to diagnose Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

AIM: To evaluate the accuracy of several methods aimed to detect Helicobacter pylori stool antigens in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. METHODS: Thirty-four patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding because of peptic ulcer were included. The first stool sample during hospitalization was collected, and stool antigens were determined with: polyclonal enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Premier-Platinum-HpSA); monoclonal enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Amplified-IDEIA-HpStAR); and rapid monoclonal immunochromatographic test (ImmunoCard-STAT HpSA). A patient was considered infected when H. pylori was diagnosed with invasive tests (rapid urease test or histology) or with (13)C-urea breath test. When all tests were negative, a new breath test was repeated after stopping proton pump inhibitors. RESULTS: All patients were infected and, therefore, only sensitivity of the tests could be calculated: polyclonal enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (74%), monoclonal enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (94%), and rapid monoclonal immunochromatographic test (60%; concordance between the two observers was high, kappa = 0.9). Neither the presence of maelena nor the delay in obtaining stool samples explained false negatives. CONCLUSIONS: Neither the polyclonal enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay stool antigen test nor the rapid immunochromatographic stool antigen test can be recommended to diagnose H. pylori infection in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. However, the monoclonal enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay stool antigen test is highly sensitive for detecting the infection in patients with this complication, although more studies are necessary to evaluate the specificity of the method.

Antigens, Bacterial↗

Meta-analysis: Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy vs. antisecretory non-eradication therapy for the prevention of recurrent bleeding from peptic ulcer.

AIM: To perform a meta-analysis comparing the efficacy of Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy vs. antisecretory non-eradication therapy for the prevention of recurrent bleeding from peptic ulcer. METHODS: A search was made of the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and several congresses for controlled clinical trials comparing the efficacy of H. pylori eradication therapy vs. antisecretory non-eradication therapy for the prevention of peptic ulcer re-bleeding. Studies with all patients taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were excluded. Extraction and quality assessment of the studies were performed by two reviewers. RESULTS: In the first meta-analysis, the mean percentage of re-bleeding in the H. pylori eradication therapy group was 4.5%, compared with 23.7% in the non-eradication therapy group without long-term antisecretory therapy [odds ratio, 0.18; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.09-0.37; 'number needed to treat' (NNT), 5; 95% CI, 4-8]. In the second meta-analysis, the re-bleeding rate in the H. pylori eradication therapy group was 1.6%, compared with 5.6% in the non-eradication therapy group with maintenance antisecretory therapy (odds ratio, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.08-0.76; NNT, 20; 95% CI, 12-100). When only patients with successful H. pylori eradication were included, the re-bleeding rate was 1%. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment of H. pylori infection is more effective than antisecretory non-eradication therapy (with or without long-term maintenance antisecretory treatment) in the prevention of recurrent bleeding from peptic ulcer. Consequently, all patients with peptic ulcer bleeding should be tested for H. pylori, and eradication therapy should be prescribed to infected patients.

Antacids↗

H. pylori eradication therapy vs. antisecretory non-eradication therapy (with or without long-term maintenance antisecretory therapy) for the prevention of recurrent bleeding from peptic ulcer.

BACKGROUND: Peptic ulcer is the main cause for upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage, and Helicobacter pylori infection is the main etiologic factor for peptic ulcer disease. Maintenance antisecretory therapy has been the standard long-term treatment for patients with bleeding ulcers to prevent recurrent bleeding. On the other hand, the precise efficacy of H. pylori eradication for the prevention of rebleeding from peptic ulcer is unknown. OBJECTIVES: To compare the efficacy of H. pylori eradication therapy vs. antisecretory non-eradication therapy (with or without long-term maintenance antisecretory therapy) for the prevention of recurrent bleeding from peptic ulcer. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (the Cochrane Library issue 4, 2003), MEDLINE (January 1966 to January 2004), EMBASE (January 1988 to January 2004), CINAHL (January 1982 to January 2004), and reference lists of articles. We also conducted a manual search from several congresses. SELECTION CRITERIA: Controlled clinical trials comparing the efficacy of H. pylori eradication therapy vs. antisecretory non-eradication therapy (with or without long-term maintenance antisecretory therapy) for the prevention of recurrent bleeding from peptic ulcer. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Extraction and quality assessment of studies were done by two reviewers. Study authors were contacted for additional information. MAIN RESULTS: Seven studies with a total of 578 patients were included in the first meta-analysis: mean percentage of rebleeding in H. pylori eradication therapy group was 2.9%, and in the non-eradication therapy group without subsequent long-term maintenance antisecretory therapy it was 20% (OR 0.17, 95% CI 0.10 to 0.32; there was no statistical evidence of heterogeneity; NNT was 7, 95% CI 5 to 11). Three studies with a total of 470 patients were included in the second meta-analysis: mean percentage of rebleeding in H. pylori eradication therapy group was 1.6%, and in non-eradication therapy group with long-term maintenance antisecretory therapy it was 5.6% (OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.76; heterogeneity was not demonstrated; NNT was 20, 95% CI 12 to 100). SUBANALYSIS: Excluding patients taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) at the time of recurrent bleeding resulted in a rebleeding rate of 2.7% (first meta-analysis) or 0.78% (second meta-analysis) in the group receiving H. pylori eradication therapy. When only patients with H. pylori eradication success were included, rebleeding rate was 1.1% in H. pylori eradication therapy group, and NNT decreased from 7 to 6. In some cases, recurrence of H. pylori infection seemed to be responsible for recurrence of bleeding. REVIEWERS' CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of H. pylori infection is more effective than antisecretory non-eradicating therapy (with or without long-term maintenance antisecretory therapy) in preventing recurrent bleeding from peptic ulcer. Consequently, all patients with peptic ulcer bleeding should be tested for H. pylori infection, and eradication therapy should be prescribed to H. pylori-positive patients.

Anti-Ulcer Agents↗

Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection in dyspeptic patients by stool antigen detection usefulness of a new monoclonal enzyme immunoassay test.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori antigens can be measured in human stools with an enzyme immunoassay, which may prove to be a valuable non-invasive diagnostic tool. Aim. To evaluate the usefulness of a new monoclonal enzyme immunoassay for detecting H. pylori antigens in dyspeptic patients' faeces (FemtoLab H. pylori, Connex, Martinsried, Germany). PATIENTS: H. pylori infection was determined in 75 patients (49 men, 26 women, mean age 52 + 16.5) for histology and rapid urease test. METHODS: H. pylori status was established by concordance of the reference tests. FemtoLab H. pylori was measured in triplicate. In addition, two determinations of a polyclonal faecal antigen test (HpSA, Platinum Premier HpSA, Meridian Diagnostic Inc., Cincinnati, USA) were also performed. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were calculated. Concordance between different measurements was estimated by Kappa statistics. RESULTS: The sensitivity of the FemtoLab H. pylori immunoassay ranged from 98 to 100% and its specificity was 76%. Positive and negative predictive values were 91 and 94-100%, respectively. Concordance coefficients ranged from 0.81 to 0.92. Corresponding HpSA values were 69, 86, 92 and 53%, respectively. Concordance coefficient was 0.61. CONCLUSIONS: FemtoLab H. pylori is a very sensitive, specific, highly reproducible and easy-to-perform tool for diagnosis of H. pylori infection.

Adolescent↗

[Sedation in digestive endoscopy. Results of a hospital survey in Catalonia (Spain)].

INTRODUCTION: The need for sedation is increasing in digestive endoscopy units (DEU). There are no data on the use of sedation in DEU in Catalonia (Spain). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of sedation in DEU in Catalonia. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A questionnaire on the practice of sedation was designed and sent to the heads of medical and nursing staff of the DEU of 63 public and private hospitals in Catalonia. Two mailings were sent with an interval of three months between each. The questionnaire included 62 items on the characteristics of the hospital and the DEU, number of explorations, frequency of sedation use, drugs employed, participation of an anesthesiologist, use of monitoring, and complications. RESULTS: Forty-four DEU (70%) corresponding to 31 public hospitals and 13 private hospitals completed the questionnaire. Evaluation of sedation patterns was based on 105,904 explorations performed in the various DEU (56,453 gastroscopies, 47,278 colonoscopies and 2,173 endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatographies (ERCP) in 2001. Sedation, sedation-analgesia or anesthesia was used in 17% of gastroscopies, 61% of colonoscopies and 100% of ERCP. Sedation was administered by an anesthesiologist in 7% of gastroscopies, 25% of colonoscopies and 38% of ERCP. Anesthesiologist administration was more frequent in private than in public centers (gastroscopies: 25% vs. 2%; colonoscopies: 57% vs. 9%, p < 0.001). No deaths associated with the use of sedation were reported. Eighty-nine percent of the DEU complied with standard recommendations for the practice of sedation. CONCLUSIONS: In Catalonia, the use of sedation is highly variable, depending on the endoscopic procedure and the DEU. Use of sedation in infrequent in gastroscopy, fairly widespread in colonoscopy and routine in ERCP. Anesthesiologist administration is significantly more frequent in private hospitals. Most DEU follow standard sedation practices.

Anesthesia↗

Meta-analysis: proton pump inhibitors vs. H2-receptor antagonists--their efficacy with antibiotics in Helicobacter pylori eradication.

BACKGROUND: It is unknown whether proton pump inhibitors are superior to H2-receptor antagonists in Helicobacter pylori eradication regimens. AIM: To perform a meta-analysis comparing the efficacy of both antisecretors when co-prescribed with antibiotics. METHODS: Randomized clinical trials comparing proton pump inhibitors vs. H2-receptor antagonists with the same antibiotics were selected. Data sources included PubMed, the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register and abstracts from congresses up to January 2002. A meta-analysis was performed by combining the odds ratios. RESULTS: Twenty studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. In the intention-to-treat analysis, the mean eradication rates with proton pump inhibitors and H2-receptor antagonists plus antibiotics were 74% [95% confidence interval (CI), 71-76%] and 69% (95% CI, 66-71%), respectively. The odds ratio for this comparison was 1.31 (95% CI, 1.09-1.58). The number needed to treat with proton pump inhibitors to achieve eradication success, compared with H2-receptor antagonists, was 25. When studies prescribing very high doses of H2-receptor antagonists (two of the outliers) were excluded, the odds ratio (for proton pump inhibitors vs. H2-receptor antagonists) increased to 1.37, the number needed to treat decreased to 20 and the heterogeneity between the studies decreased. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, proton pump inhibitors are more effective than H2-receptor antagonists when prescribed at usual doses with antibiotics to eradicate H. pylori infection.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Meta-analysis: comparative efficacy of different proton-pump inhibitors in triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication.

BACKGROUND: It is not known whether certain proton-pump inhibitors are more efficacious than others when used in triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication. AIM: To compare the efficacy of different proton-pump inhibitors in triple therapy by performing a meta-analysis. METHODS: A MEDLINE search was performed. Abstracts of the European Helicobacter pylori Study Group and the American Gastroenterological Association congresses from 1996 to 2002 were also examined. Randomized studies with at least two branches of triple therapy that differed only in terms of type of proton-pump inhibitor were included in a meta-analysis using Review Manager 4.1. RESULTS: Fourteen studies were included. Intention-to-treat cure rates were similar for omeprazole and lansoprazole: 74.7% vs. 76%, odds ratio (OR) 0.91 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.69-1.21] in a total of 1085 patients; for omeprazole and rabeprazole: 77.9% vs. 81.2%, OR 0.81 (95% CI 0.58-1.15) in a total of 825 patients; for omeprazole and esomeprazole: 87.7% vs. 89%, OR 0.89 (95% CI 0.58-1.35) in 833 patients; and for lansoprazole and rabeprazole: 81% vs. 85.7%, OR 0.77 (95% CI 0.48-1.22) in 550 patients. CONCLUSION: The efficacy of various proton-pump inhibitors seems to be similar when used for H. pylori eradication in standard triple therapy.

2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles↗

Triple vs. quadruple therapy for treating Helicobacter pylori infection: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Triple therapy (proton pump inhibitor, clarithromycin and amoxicillin or an imidazole) is the first-line treatment for Helicobacter pylori infection. However, the effectiveness of triple therapy is decreasing due to the increase in antibiotic resistance. Quadruple therapy (proton pump inhibitor, tetracycline, metronidazole and a bismuth salt) is a very effective regimen even in areas of high prevalence of antibiotic resistance, and may be an alternative first-line treatment. AIM: To compare triple vs. quadruple therapy for the first-line treatment of H. pylori infection. METHODS: An extensive literature search was performed to identify randomized trials comparing triple vs. quadruple therapy. Selected trials were included in a meta-analysis using Review Manager 4.1. RESULTS: Four studies met the inclusion criteria. Eradication rates with quadruple therapy were slightly higher in both the intention-to-treat (81% vs. 78%; odds ratio, 0.83; 95% confidence interval, 0.61-1.14) and per protocol (88% vs. 85%; odds ratio, 0.81; 95% confidence interval, 0.55-1.20) analysis, although the differences were not statistically significant. Nor were there significant differences in compliance or adverse effects between the therapies. CONCLUSION: Triple and quadruple therapies seem to be roughly equivalent in terms of effectiveness, compliance and side-effects profile when administered as first-line treatment for H. pylori infection.

Amoxicillin↗

Systematic review: Rabeprazole-based therapies in Helicobacter pylori eradication.

AIM: To perform a systematic review of the efficacy of rabeprazole-based therapies in Helicobacter pylori eradication, and to conduct a meta-analysis comparing the efficacy of rabeprazole and other proton pump inhibitors when co-prescribed with antibiotics. METHODS: Studies evaluating rabeprazole plus antibiotics were considered. Only randomized trials comparing rabeprazole and other proton pump inhibitors with antibiotics, and differing only in the proton pump inhibitor, were included in the meta-analysis. Electronic and manual bibliographic searches were conducted. The percentage (weighted mean) of successful eradication was calculated. Meta-analysis was performed by combining the odds ratios (OR) of the individual studies. RESULTS: The eradication rates were as follows: 14-day rabeprazole-amoxicillin, 73%; rabeprazole-amoxicillin-clarithromycin for 3, 5, 7 and 10 days, 44%, 72%, 78% and 75%, respectively; low-dose rabeprazole (20 mg/day), amoxicillin and clarithromycin for 7 days, 81%; high-dose rabeprazole (40 mg/day), amoxicillin and clarithromycin for 7 days, 75%; 7-day rabeprazole-clarithromycin-nitroimidazole, 85%. Twelve comparative studies were included in the meta-analysis. The eradication rate with rabeprazole plus antibiotics was 79%; it was 77% with other proton pump inhibitors (OR = 1.15; 95% confidence interval, 0.93-1.42). Sub-analysis comparing rabeprazole at low doses (10 mg b.d.) with other proton pump inhibitors at standard doses (omeprazole 20 mg b.d. or lansoprazole 30 mg b.d.) showed no differences. CONCLUSIONS: Rabeprazole achieves similar H. pylori eradication rates to omeprazole and lansoprazole when co-prescribed with antibiotics. Low doses of rabeprazole (10 mg b.d.), when administered with two antibiotics, may be sufficient to eradicate H. pylori infection.

2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles↗

Stool antigen for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection in cirrhosis: comparative usefulness of three different methods.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori infection may lead to peptic ulcer disease, and causes significant morbidity in patients with cirrhosis. The measurement of H. pylori antigens in human stools has been proposed as a valuable, non-invasive, diagnostic tool. A number of tests have recently been commercialized. However, very few data are available on their reliability in patients with cirrhosis. AIM: To evaluate the usefulness of three new tests--HpSA (Meridian Diagnostics Inc., Cincinnati, OH, USA), Simple H. pyl (OPERON S.A., Zaragoza, Spain) and FemtoLab H. pylori (Connex, Martinsried, Germany)--in the diagnosis of H. pylori infection in cirrhotic patients. METHODS: H. pylori infection was determined in 79 cirrhotic patients (48 men, 31 women; age range, 29-82 years; mean, 62 +/- 11 years) by concordance of histology and urea breath test. The sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values of each stool test were calculated. RESULTS: According to the reference method, the sensitivities of HpSA, Simple H. pyl and FemtoLab H. pylori immunoassays were 76%, 87% and 78%, respectively, and their specificities were 93%, 62% and 79%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Faecal tests are non-invasive and easy-to-perform tools for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection. However, their sensitivity and specificity seem to be non-optimal in patients with cirrhosis.

Adult↗