Eradication of Helicobacter pylori in patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing dialysis treatment

The aim of the present study was to examine the efficacy and safety of combination therapy with amoxicillin (AMPC), lansoprazole, and plaunotol for the eradication of H. pylori in dialysis patients. The subjects consisted of 15 dialysis patients (10 men and 5 women, mean age of 56 +/- 2.4 years) in whom H. pylori was found in the stomach. H. pylori status was evaluated by histology, culture and rapid urease test with biopsy specimens of the gastric mucosa. The patients were treated with AMPC 500 mg once a day for 3 weeks, lansoprazole 30 mg once a day for 8 weeks and plaunotol 80 mg three times a day for 24 weeks. In addition, the concentrations of serum gastrin and gastric juice ammonia were measured. Fourteen patients completed the treatment schedule, while one discontinued treatment because of nausea and diarrhea. Among the 14 patients, H. pylori was eradicated in 11 without any side effects (eradication rate 78.6%). Concentrations of gastric juice ammonia and serum gastrin were reduced significantly in patients who became H. pylori-negative. The present study indicates that combination therapy with AMPC, lansoprazole and plaunotol is safe and efficient for the eradication of H. pylori in dialysis patients. The results also suggested that elevated concentrations of gastric juice ammonia and serum gastrin in dialysis patients can be attributed, at least in part, to H. pylori infection.