Ten-day concomitant and sequential therapy for Helicobacter pylori effective in region with high antibiotic resistance rates.

BACKGROUND: Increasing antibiotic-resistant Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) strains complicate efforts to eradicate infection. In regions with high dual resistance to both clarithromycin and metronidazole, bismuth quadruple therapy is recommended. But, with lack of easy availability of bismuth, the (non-bismuth) concomitant and sequential regimens are used commonly as first-line therapy. Recent reports indicate suboptimal results with sequential therapy in such regions. We aimed to compare the efficacy of concomitant therapy vs. sequential therapy in the eradication of H. pylori in a region with high antibiotic resistance rates, and to compare adherence rates and adverse events with the regimens. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-four consecutive H. pylori-infected patients (diagnosed using rapid urease test or urea breath test) were randomized to receive sequential or concomitant therapy for 10 days each. Four weeks after treatment completion, urea breath test was done to confirm eradication of the infection. Cure rates were compared between the two regimens and note was made of adherence rates and adverse events. RESULTS: Concomitant therapy showed a statistically non-significant higher cure rate compared to sequential therapy in intention-to-treat (87.1% vs. 81.4%%, p = 0.46) and per-protocol (94.7% vs. 83.9%, p = 0.07) analyses. Both the regimens were well tolerated and showed similar adherence rates (p = 1.00) and incidence of adverse events (p = 0.44). CONCLUSION: In a region with high dual resistance, both concomitant and sequential therapy for H. pylori infection achieved eradication rates >80%, but concomitant therapy showed a statistically non-significant higher cure rate, with similar adherence and adverse event profiles.

Self-reported Wheat Sensitivity in Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Healthy Subjects: Prevalence of Celiac Markers and Response to Wheat-free Diet.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Most patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) report food-related aggravation of symptoms. Wheat/gluten is one of the most commonly incriminated. We studied the prevalence of self-reported wheat sensitivity in patients with IBS and in a healthy population from a region in India consuming mixed-cereal diets, correlated it with serological and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) markers of celiac disease, and evaluated the response to a wheat-free diet. METHODS: We surveyed 204 patients with IBS and 400 healthy persons for self-reported wheat sensitivity. Testing for IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase and HLA DQ2 or DQ8 was done in individuals who reported wheat sensitivity. Consenting persons with wheat sensitivity were put on wheat-free diet and monitored for symptom change. RESULTS: Twenty-three of 204 patients with IBS (11.3%) and none of the healthy subjects self-reported wheat sensitivity. Of 23 patients, 14 (60.9%) were positive for HLA DQ2 or DQ8 and none for anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody. After 6 weeks on wheat-free diet, all 19 participating patients reported clinical improvement; fewer patients had bloating, diarrhea, constipation, and easy fatigue. CONCLUSIONS: Eleven percent of patients with IBS self-reported wheat sensitivity. None of them had positive celiac serology; 60.9% were positive for HLA DQ2 and DQ8, suggesting a possible genetic basis. All of them improved symptomatically on a wheat-free diet.