Furazolidone-based triple therapy for H pylori gastritis in children.

Aim: To evaluate the furazolidone-based triple therapy in children with symptomatic H pylori gastritis.

Methods: A prospective and consecutive open trial was carried out. The study included 38 patients with upper digestive symptoms sufficiently severe to warrant endoscopic investigation. H pylori status was defined based both on histology and on positive (13)C-urea breath test. Drug regimen was a seven-day course of omeprazole, clarithromycin and furazolidone (100 mg, 200 mg if over 30 kg) twice daily. Eradication of H pylori was assessed two months after treatment by histology and (13)C -urea breath test. Further clinical evaluation was performed 7 d, 2 and 6 mo after the treatment.

Results: Thirty-eight patients (24 females, 14 males) were included. Their age ranged from 4 to 17.8 (mean 10.9 +/- 3.7) years. On intent-to-treat analysis (n = 38), the eradication rate of H pylori was 73.7% (95% CI, 65.2%-82%) whereas in per-protocol analysis (n = 33) it was 84.8% (95% CI, 78.5%-91%). All the patients with duodenal ulcer (n = 7) were successfully treated (100% vs 56.2% with antral nodularity). Side effects were reported in 26 patients (68.4%), mainly vomiting (14/26) and abdominal pain (n = 13). Successfully treated dyspeptic patients showed improvement in 78.9% of H pylori-negative patients after six months and in 50% of H pylori-positive patients after six months of treatment.

Conclusion: Triple therapy with furazolidone achieves moderate efficacy in H pylori treatment. The eradication rate seems to be higher in patients with duodenal ulcer.