Gastroenterology and Hepatology

H Pylori

 

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H. Pylori

 

It is one of the most common infections worldwide and the indications for treatment and eradication are:


Grade A:

Peptic ulcer disease

MALToma

Patients’ wishes (after full consultation with their physician)

Non-ulcer dyspepsia

To reduce the risk of peptic ulcer and upper gastrointestinal bleeding in non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug-naive users

As a strategy for gastric cancer prevention in communities with high incidence of gastric cancer


Grade B:

Atrophic gastritis

After gastric cancer resection

Patients who have first degree relatives of patients with gastric cancer

Before starting long-term aspirin therapy for patients at high risk for ulcers and ulcer-related complications

Patients receiving long-term low-dose aspirin therapy and who have a past history of upper gastrointestinal bleeding and perforation

Gastroesophageal reflux disease patients requiring long-term proton pump inhibitor


Grade C:

Unexplained iron-deficiency anemia, or idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura


Even though the prevalence of HPylori is decreasing, its diagnosis should still be at the forefront of possible diagnosis.

Points of interest:

  1. If there is no alarm symptoms, test and treat is an acceptable strategy uninvestigated dyspepsia
  2. Test and treat is no longer recommended for GERD unless plan to receive long term PPI
  3. Testing is recommended for communities with high incidence of gastric cancer
  4. H Pylori eradication will reduce the risk of PUD and GIB in NSAID naïve subgroup but it alone is inadequate in the subgroup of long term NSAID users where they have past h/o PUD or PUD complications
  5. If the patient has high risk of PUD and starting on long term ASA, they should be tested and treated for HP even though eradication alone is inadequate.
  6. As a last resort, HP should be tested for in unexplained IDA and ITP
  7. UBT and stool antigen test are accurate and appropriate for confirmation of H Pylori while serological test has very limited role


Possible treatment regimes for HP

A)     If no penicillin allergy:

First line:  PPI + Amoxycillin + Clarithromycin bd for 7 days

Second line: Rabeprazole + Amoxycillin + Clarithromycin bd for 14 days

               OR Rabeprazole + Amoxycillin + Metronidazole bd for 14 days

Third line: PPI + Levofloxacin + Amoxycillin for 10 days

Fourth step: need to consider Rifabutin or Bismuth or send for C&S


B)      If penicillin allergy:

PPI + Metronidazole + Clarithromycin bd for 7 days


C)      Sequential therapy:

First 5 days: PPI + Amoxycillin bd

Next 5 days:  Clarithromycin and Tinidazole bd

 

 

edited 12th July 2010