Comparison of two different daily dosages (2.4 vs. 1.2 g) of oral mesalazine in maintenance of remission in ulcerative colitis patients: 1-year follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: Mesalazine as maintenance therapy in ulcerative colitis is used worldwide and has been proven to be effective. However, the optimal dosage remains to be defined. AIM: To establish whether daily treatment with 2.4 g of oral mesalazine is more effective than 1.2 g in preventing disease relapse. METHODS: A total of 156 patients with ulcerative colitis in remission were randomly treated for 1 year with 2.4 (n = 80) or 1.2 (n = 76) g/day of mesalazine. Activity of disease was assessed by periodical clinical, endoscopic and histological examinations. RESULTS: After 12 months, 24 of 80 patients (30%) on 2.4 g and 20 of 76 patients (26%) on 1.2 g were still in remission (P = N.S.). Patients in 2.4 g group remained in remission for a longer time than those in 1.2 g group (P < 0.001). Among clinical variables considered in the study, course of disease prior to enrollment (< or = 3 or > 3 relapses/year) was found to influence response to therapy. CONCLUSIONS: A daily dosage of 2.4 g of oral mesalazine seems to better at preventing and delaying relapses of ulcerative colitis than 1.2 g. The course of disease seems to be crucial in choosing the optimal dosage of mesalazine in a maintenance regimen.

Beta-lactamase inhibition with clavulanic acid supplementing standard amoxycillin-based triple therapy does not increase Helicobacter pylori eradication rate.

BACKGROUND: Antibiotic resistance is the main reason of failure for H. pylori eradication and beta-lactamases produced by resistant H. pylori strains is a possible mechanism underlying ineffectiveness of an amoxycillin-based triple therapy. AIM: To investigate the benefit of using clavulanic acid associated with amoxycillin compared with amoxycillin alone in a standard triple therapy. METHODS: A total 172 H. pylori-positive dyspeptic patients were randomised to a daily treatment with esomeprazole (20 mg bid), clarithromycin (500 mg bid) and either amoxycillin plus clavulanic acid (1 g bid) or amoxycillin (1 g bid) alone for 1 week. H. pylori status was defined by histology and urea breath test at entry and following 8 weeks from the end of therapy by urea breath test and antigen faecal assessment. RESULTS: At intention-to-treat and per-protocol analysis eradication rates achieved by amoxycillin plus clavulanic acid (72 and 78%) were higher, but not significantly, than those achieved by amoxycillin alone triple therapy (62 and 72%). Compliance was good, side-effects mild and with a similar incidence in both regimens. CONCLUSIONS: Clavulanic acid supplemented to amoxycillin-based standard triple therapy does not significantly increase the H. pylori eradication rate with standard triple therapy.

One-week once-daily triple therapy with esomeprazole, levofloxacin and azithromycin compared to a standard therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication.

BACKGROUND: Primary antibiotic-resistance and poor compliance are the main causes of Helicobacter pylori eradication failure of standard regimens. AIM: To investigate eradication rate, patient compliance and tolerability of a 1-week once-daily levofloxacin plus azithromycin triple therapy versus the standard twice-daily triple therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 164 H. pylori-positive patients were randomised to either esomeprazole 20mg, levofloxacin 500 mg and azithromycin 500 mg once-daily (ELAz) or esomeprazole 20mg, clarithromycin 500 mg and amoxycillin 1g twice-daily (ECA) for 1 week. H. pylori infection was defined at entry by histology and urea breath test; cure of infection was determined both by negative urea breath test and H. pylori stool antigens. RESULTS: H. pylori eradication rates of ELAz and ECA were similar at intention-to-treat (both 65%) and per-protocol analyses (70% versus 76%, respectively). Incidence of poor compliance was lower, although not significantly, in patients randomised to ELAz than to ECA (4% versus 10%); tolerability was significantly higher for ELAz than for ECA (88% versus 70%; P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Once-daily levofloxacin plus azithromycin-based triple therapy achieves an H. pylori eradication rate comparable to that of standard twice-daily triple therapy, but is associated with higher patient compliance and might even be better tolerated.

Increased thrombin generation and circulating levels of tumour necrosis factor-alpha in patients with chronic Helicobacter pylori-positive gastritis.

BACKGROUND: Conflicting data have been reported concerning the relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and coronary heart disease. AIM: To evaluate clotting system activation and plasma levels of tumour necrosis factor-alpha, a procoagulant cytokine, in patients with H. pylori-positive and -negative gastritis. METHODS: Three groups of patients were identified: 38 with H. pylori-positive gastritis, 18 with H. pylori-negative gastritis, and 40 H. pylori-negative controls with normal gastric mucosa. Plasma levels of prothrombin fragment 1 + 2 (F1 + 2) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha were assayed. Patients were also controlled after 2 and 6 months following standard H. pylori eradication treatment. RESULTS: At baseline, fragment 1 + 2 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha levels in H. pylori-positive patients were significantly higher than those in H. pylori-negative patients with gastritis (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). After H. pylori eradication, fragment 1 + 2 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha levels showed a significant decrease at 2 months (P = 0.03 and P = 0.02, respectively) and a further reduction at 6 months, reaching levels observed in H. pylori-negative patients and controls. CONCLUSIONS: The increase thrombin generation rate and the correlation of plasma fragment 1 + 2 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha levels in H. pylori-positive patients suggest a role for inflammation in mediating the relationship between H. pylori infection and activation of the clotting system.

Diffuse febrile dermatosis in a patient with active ulcerative colitis under treatment with steroids and azathioprine: a case of Sweet's syndrome. Case report and review of literature.

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease often associated with extra-intestinal manifestations, such as dermatological disorders. Of these, the most frequent are erythema nodosum and pyoderma gangrenosum, the two neutrophilic forms of dermatosis. Another is Sweet' s syndrome, which results in a sudden eruption of tender, raised erythematous or violaceous plaques/papules or nodules, less frequent vesicles, pustules or bullae, involving face, neck, arms and trunk. This skin disorder is frequently observed in patients with leukaemia or connective tissue diseases, while it is very rare in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. The present report deals with the case of a febrile diffuse skin eruption in a 53-year-old patient with moderately active ulcerative colitis after few days' treatment with steroids and azathioprine. At first, the dermatosis was addressed to an idiosyncrasy to azathioprine, which was, therefore, promptly discontinued. Histological examination of skin biopsies revealed the presence of features typical of a Sweet's syndrome. The eruption gradually improved as well as the patient's general condition, until complete regression was achieved following steroid treatment.