Abstract:
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is a major cause of symptomatic gastritis
and peptic ulcers in the Kenyan population. Persistence of H. pylori and its
medical complications continue to be a major problem. Treatment duration is
usually for one or two weeks. Studies in developed countries have shown equal or
increased efficacy with two week triple therapy treatment, but no study has been
done to establish this in Kenya. The main aim of this study was to compare efficacy
of one and two week triple therapy for H. pylori eradication in adults at a Nairobi
gastroenterology clinic. This was a single-blind randomized clinical trial
conducted at the Centre for Clinical Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute,
Nairobi - Kenya. Patients aged 18 years and above, referred to the
gastroenterology clinic for endoscopy, were interviewed, asked to participate in the
study and consent was acquired from them. 479 patients went through rapid urease
testing on endoscopy of which 253 patients tested negative and 226 patients tested
positive for H. pylori. The prevalence rate of H. pylori infection was 47%. 150
patients were H. pylori positive on rapid urease testing and were randomized to
receive either esomeprazole 20 milligrams, amoxicillin 1 gram, and clarithromycin
500 milligrams twice daily followed by one week esomeprazole 20 milligrams plus
amoxicillin and clarithromycin placebo twice a day (EAC1, n = 76), or
esomeprazole 20 milligrams, amoxicillin 1 gram and clarithromycin 500
milligrams twice daily for two weeks (EAC2, n = 74). A cure check through stool
xvii
antigen testing (Meridian Bioscience) was performed 4 weeks after conclusion of
therapy. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS computer program. Bivariate
and multivariate analysis was done to measure the strength of association between
the exposures and the outcomes. 40.2% of 112 patients, who completed follow up,
were found to have H. pylori on stool antigen testing following endoscopy – a cure
rate of 59.8%. H. pylori was eradicated in 66.1% of EAC1 compared to 53.6% of
those in EAC2 of the per protocol analysis. There was no statistical difference
noted (P>0.05). Both treatments were similarly well tolerated with no unexpected
safety concerns. The main side effects were abdominal pain and headache for both
treatment groups. There was no significant association between occurrence of a
particular side effect and treatment groups (P>0.05). There was a significant
association between H. pylori presence and return of symptoms at the end of the
study on bivariate analysis (P<0.05). The final logistic regression model
incorporated the following significant predictors (P<0.05): Age and Return of
symptoms in comparison with H. pylori presence. For every unit increase in age, an
individual was 5% less likely to test positive for H. pylori. The older the individual
the less likely there were to test positive for H. pylori. An individual showing
recurring symptoms was 3.31 times more likely to test positive for H. pylori
compared to one without recurrence of symptoms. In the Kenyan population, the
seven day treatment was as effective as the fourteen day treatment for H. pylori
eradication. However, the seven day treatment was recommended for treatment of
xviii
H. pylori as it has good results and is cost-effective. Both treatments were well
tolerated. It may be necessary to check antigen levels of H. pylori and drug
resistance before treatment or retreatment for H. pylori. This will help determine
the type of drugs to use and duration of treatment.