Results: Four-hundred and fifty-four patients have been treated so far: 85 with BQT-Tet, 94 with BQT-Dox, and 275 with BQT-three-in-one. Average age was 53 years, 68% were women. Overall modified intention-to-treat and per-protocol eradication rates were 81% (BQT-Dox: 65%, BQT-Tet: 76%, BQT-three-in-one: 88%) and 82% (BQT-Dox: 66%, BQT-Tet: 77%, BQT-three-in-one: 88%), respectively. By logistic regression, higher eradication rates were associated with compliance (OR = 2.96; 95% CI = 1.01-8.84) and no prior metronidazole use (OR = 1.96; 95% CI = 1.15-3.33); BQT-three-in-one was superior to BQT-Dox (OR = 4.46; 95% CI = 2.51-8.27), and BQT-Tet was marginally superior to BQT-Dox (OR = 1.67; 95% CI = 0.85-3.29).
Conclusion: Third-line H pylori eradication with bismuth quadruple treatment (after failure with clarithromycin and levofloxacin) offers acceptable efficacy and safety. Highest efficacy was found in compliant patients and those taking 10-day BQT-three-in-one or 14-day BQT-Tet. Doxycycline seems to be less effective and therefore should not be recommended.
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Results: Four-hundred and fifty-four patients have been treated so far: 85 with BQT-Tet, 94 with BQT-Dox, and 275 with BQT-three-in-one. Average age was 53 years, 68% were women. Overall modified intention-to-treat and per-protocol eradication rates were 81% (BQT-Dox: 65%, BQT-Tet: 76%, BQT-three-in-one: 88%) and 82% (BQT-Dox: 66%, BQT-Tet: 77%, BQT-three-in-one: 88%), respectively. By logistic regression, higher eradication rates were associated with compliance (OR = 2.96; 95% CI = 1.01-8.84) and no prior metronidazole use (OR = 1.96; 95% CI = 1.15-3.33); BQT-three-in-one was superior to BQT-Dox (OR = 4.46; 95% CI = 2.51-8.27), and BQT-Tet was marginally superior to BQT-Dox (OR = 1.67; 95% CI = 0.85-3.29).
Conclusion: Third-line H pylori eradication with bismuth quadruple treatment (after failure with clarithromycin and levofloxacin) offers acceptable efficacy and safety. Highest efficacy was found in compliant patients and those taking 10-day BQT-three-in-one or 14-day BQT-Tet. Doxycycline seems to be less effective and therefore should not be recommended.