Background:
Helicobacter pylori
infection
is one of the most prevalent chronic bacterial human infections worldwide.
Helicobacter pylori
colonizes the gastric mucosa and causes persistent gastritis that may progress to gastric cancer. Increased resistance of
H. pylori
presents a major problem in most countries. Statins, including simvastatin, which are currently used to treat hypercholesterolemia, appear to have potential synergistic role to antibiotics. This study aimed to assess the value of adding simvastatin as adjuvant to standard triple therapy in patients infected with
H. pylori
.
Methods:
This study was conducted on 100 patients diagnosed with
H. pylori
by the presence of antigen in stools. All patients were randomly subjected either to the standard triple regimen (clarithromycin 500 mg bid + amoxicillin 1 g bid + omeprazole 20 mg bid) (group 1, N=50) or to the standard triple regimen plus simvastatin (clarithromycin 500 mg bid + amoxicillin 1 g bid + omeprazole 20 mg bid + simvastatin 20 mg bid) (group 2, N=50). Both groups were treated for 14 days and eradication of
H. pylori
was assessed by a stool antigen test 4 weeks after therapy.
Results:
Eradication of
H. pylori
infection was significantly higher in patients treated with the standard triple therapy plus simvastatin (n=41, 82%) than in patients treated with the standard triple therapy (n=31, 62%) (
P
<0.022).
Conclusion:
Simvastatin significantly improves the
H. pylori
eradication rate.
Two-dimensional US can play an important role in screening for esophageal abnormalities, thus saving money and time. The esophagus should be screened during routine conventional abdominal US.
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