Eradication Rate by Duration of Third-line Rescue Therapy with Levofloxacin after Helicobacter pylori Treatment Failure in Clinical Practice

Abstract

Background/Aims: This study evaluated the eradication rate of levofloxacin-containing rescue therapy by treatment duration in patients in whom previous first- and second-line treatment failed. Methods: Fifty-five patients with persistent Helicobacter pylori infection after first-line therapy and second-line therapy were studied in a single referral academic center. We compared the eradication rates by the treatment duration of third-line therapy. Results: Of 55 patients, 12 (21.8%) received rescue therapy for seven days, 24 (43.6%) received rescue therapy for 10 days, and 19 (34.5%) received rescue therapy for 14 days. The eradication rates of therapy with levofloxacin were 65.5% in the 55 enrolled patients and 73.5% in the 49 patients who underwent follow-up testing. In cases where follow-up testing was performed, the eradication rate of 7-day therapy was 58.3%, of 10-day 68.2%, and of 14-day therapy 93.3%. Eradication rate of 14-day therapy was higher than 7-day (p=0.06) and 10-day (p=0.108), but chance could not be ruled out in the difference among groups. Conclusions: This study showed somewhat increasing of H. pylori eradication rate by extending the duration of levofloxacin-containing rescue therapy to 14 days.