1-L polyethylene glycol + ascorbic acid versus sodium picosulfate + magnesium citrate bowel preparations for colonoscopy: effectiveness and safety

Background: adequate bowel preparation is crucial for the protective effect of colonoscopy. Commonly used preparation regimens like polyethylene glycol (PEG) or sodium picosulfate with magnesium citrate (SPMC) have shown similar results in clinical trials, but low-volume PEG + ascorbic acid (1-L PEG + ASC) versus SPMC have never been compared in a real-life setting. Aim: to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of 1-L PEG + ASC versus SPMC in a real-life setting for the overall population, for patients aged ≥ 65 years, and males versus females. Methods: out-patients aged ≥ 18 years who underwent colonoscopy for any indication were randomly assigned to the 1-L PEG + ASC or SPMC group. Using the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (BBPS), the primary endpoints were the bowel cleansing success of the overall colon and right colon, as well as high-quality (HQ) cleansing. Furthermore, the effectiveness and safety outcomes for age groups and males versus females were compared. Results: 1-L PEG + ASC showed significantly better bowel cleansing success than SPMC. Particularly remarkable is the HQ cleansing reached with 1-L PEG + ASC compared with SPMC (55.5 % versus 25.4 % in the overall colon, and 58.7 % versus 27.2 % in the right colon). 1-L PEG + ASC was equally effective for men and women while SPMC showed significant differences between genders (men had worse bowel cleansing). Age did not affect the cleansing effectiveness. 1-L PEG + ASC versus SPMC showed significant differences in tolerance and safety; women also had significantly worse tolerance than men for both solutions, but these did not affect the quality of bowel cleansing. Conclusions: in our real-life setting, 1-L PEG + ASC offered better adequate and HQ bowel cleansing than SPMC, achieving excellent cleansing quality, regardless of gender or tolerance. (AU)

Erradicación de la infección por Helicobacter pylori con una nueva terapia cuádruple basada en bismuto en la práctica clínica / Eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection with a new bismuth-based quadruple therapy in clinical practice

Introducción: La erradicación de la infección por Helicobacter pylori representa un desafío clínico. Objetivo: Evaluar la eficacia y seguridad de la terapia cuádruple con esomeprazol más una cápsula 3 en 1 que contiene subcitrato de bismuto, metronidazol y tetraciclina, más probióticos en pacientes diagnosticados de infección por H. pylori en la práctica clínica habitual. Métodos: Estudio prospectivo, intervencional, unicéntrico y abierto realizado en pacientes consecutivos con indicación confirmada de erradicación de infección por H. pylori. Los pacientes fueron tratados con 3 cápsulas de Pylera(R) 4veces al día (desayuno, comida, merienda y cena), más 40mg de esomeprazol, 2veces al día durante 10días (30min antes de desayuno y cena) y probióticos durante 30días. La erradicación de la infección por H. pylori se confirmó mediante la prueba del aliento con urea marcada realizada al menos 28días después del final del tratamiento. Resultados: Un total de 100 pacientes fueron incluidos consecutivamente. Veinticinco (25,0%) pacientes tenían historia previa de tratamiento de su infección por H. pylori. En la población por intención de tratar, las tasas de erradicación fueron del 90,7% (68/75) y del 80,0% (20/25) en los pacientes tratados con Pylera(R) como primera línea o como terapia de rescate, respectivamente. Dieciocho pacientes (18%) presentaron, al menos, un acontecimiento adverso, la mayoría (89%) leves. Conclusión: Diez días de tratamiento con un régimen cuádruple de bismuto, metronidazol y tetraciclina más esomeprazol y probióticos es una estrategia eficaz y segura en pacientes con infección por H. pylori (AU)

Introduction: The eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection represents a clinical challenge. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of quadruple therapy with esomeprazole plus a 3-in-1 capsule containing bismuth subcitrate, metronidazole and tetracycline, plus probiotics in patients diagnosed with H. pylori infection in routine clinical practice. Methods: A prospective, interventional, single-centre and open-label study in consecutive patients with a confirmed indication for eradication of H. pylori infection. Patients were treated with three capsules of Pylera(R) four times a day (breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack and dinner), plus 40mg of esomeprazole twice daily for 10 days (30min before breakfast and dinner) and probiotics for 30 days. Eradication of H. pylori infection was confirmed by labelled urea breath test performed at least 28 days after the end of treatment. Results: A total of 100 patients were consecutively enrolled. Twenty-five patients (25.0%) had a prior history of treatment for their H. pylori infection. In the intention-to-treat population, eradication rates were 90.7% (68/75) and 80.0% (20/25) in patients treated with Pylera(R) as the first line or as rescue therapy, respectively. Eighteen patients (18%) had at least one adverse event, most of which (89%) were mild. Conclusion: Ten days of treatment with a quadruple regimen of bismuth, metronidazole and tetracycline plus esomeprazole and probiotics is an effective and safe strategy in patients with H. pyloriinfection (AU)