REAL-WORLD EFFECTIVENESS OF HIGH-DOSE DUAL THERAPY VS OPTIMIZED CLARITHROMYCIN TRIPLE THERAPY FOR HELICOBACTER PYLORI: A PROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY WITH TEST-OF-CURE SENSITIVITY ANALYSES.

BACKGROUND

Helicobacter pylori eradication rates have declined globally due to rising antibiotic resistance, challenging the effectiveness of standard triple therapy. High-dose dual therapy has emerged as a simplified alternative supported by pharmacodynamic rationale. We aimed to compare the real-world effectiveness, adherence, and safety of high-dose dual therapy versus optimized clarithromycin-based triple therapy in routine gastroenterology practice.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective, multicenter observational cohort study in adult patients with confirmed H. pylori infection treated with either high-dose dual therapy (amoxicillin 1 g three times daily plus esomeprazole 40 mg three times daily for 14 days) or optimized clarithromycin-based triple therapy (amoxicillin 1 g twice daily, clarithromycin 500 mg twice daily, and esomeprazole 40 mg twice daily for 14 days) according to physician decision. Eradication was assessed by carbon-14 urea breath test ≥4 weeks after therapy. Comparative effectiveness was estimated with effect measures, 95% confidence intervals (CI), and predefined sensitivity analyses for incomplete test-of-cure follow-up.

RESULTS

Among 218 treated patients, 104 completed post-treatment breath testing. Eradication rates were 80.4% with high-dose dual therapy and 81.3% with triple therapy (absolute difference -0.9%; 95%CI -16.3 to 14.5; P=0.91). Moderate-to-high adherence was observed in 51.5% vs 67.6%, respectively (P=0.19). Adverse events were more frequent with high-dose dual therapy (70.8% vs 58.9%), although the difference was not statistically significant. Mainly gastrointestinal intolerance and taste disturbance. Sensitivity analyses across plausible missing-outcome scenarios showed stable comparative results.

CONCLUSION

In prospective real-world practice, high-dose dual therapy achieved eradication effectiveness comparable to optimized triple therapy, with favorable tolerability. These findings support high-dose dual therapy as a pragmatic and clinically attractive alternative in settings with evolving resistance and adherence constraints.