The effectiveness of rifabutin triple therapy for patients with difficult-to-eradicate Helicobacter pylori in clinical practice.

BACKGROUND: Failure of first line and subsequent Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy is a significant problem and alternative treatments are few.

AIMS: To evaluate the efficacy of a rifabutin-based triple therapy in clinical practice and determine the optimal strategy for its use.

METHODS: Patients referred after first or subsequent treatment failure were prescribed rifabutin triple therapy consisting of standard dose proton pump inhibitor, amoxicillin 1 g and rifabutin 150 mg each b.d. for 10 days.

RESULTS: In 67 patients, the main indications for treatment were dyspepsia (55%), peptic ulcer disease (24%) and increased gastric cancer risk (18%). The median number of previous treatments was 2 (range: 1-9). Eradication of Helicobacter pylori was achieved in 76% (48/63) per protocol and 72% (48/67) on an intention-to-treat basis. When used as second line therapy, 95% (18/19) achieved eradication compared with 68% (30/44) when two or more previous treatments had been used (P = 0.03). Outcome was independent of age, ethnicity, gender or indication for treatment. Adverse events were reported in 10%.

CONCLUSION: Rifabutin triple therapy is a well tolerated and effective second line therapy in the treatment of persistent Helicobacter pylori; however, its efficacy decreases with increasing number of failed previous therapies.