CURE-H. Pylori: A Trial on the Combination of Anti-Ulcerants and Levofloxacin-Based Therapy for Helicobacter Pylori Eradication

This study, titled CURE-H. Pylori, is a three-arm, parallel-group, open-label, randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate the effectiveness of Dexlansoprazole, Lansoprazole, and Vonoprazan in combination with Levofloxacin and Amoxicillin for Helicobacter pylori eradication. H. pylori infection is a significant health issue worldwide, with an estimated prevalence of 44% globally and around 60% in Pakistan, leading to gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and increased risks of gastric cancer and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. Despite the widespread use of PPI-based triple therapies, treatment efficacy has decreased due to increasing antibiotic resistance, especially to Clarithromycin and Metronidazole. This study aims to assess the eradication rate of H. pylori in patients receiving either Dexlansoprazole 60mg, Lansoprazole 30mg, or Vonoprazan 20mg, each combined with Levofloxacin 500mg and Amoxicillin 1g for 14 days. Participants will be randomized into three arms (314 participants per arm) and assessed for H. pylori eradication using a Urea Breath Test (UBT) at follow-up, which will serve as the primary endpoint. Secondary objectives include assessing symptom improvement using the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS), measuring symptoms such as reflux, abdominal pain, indigestion, diarrhea, and constipation. The study will enroll adult patients diagnosed with H. pylori via UBT and who are not currently receiving treatment for the infection. The study will be conducted at healthcare centers in major cities across Pakistan, including Peshawar, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Multan, Lahore, Karachi, and Quetta, over a 12-month period. All participants will sign informed consent forms before enrollment, ensuring they understand the study's procedures and risks. Statistical analysis will be performed using SPSS version 26, with categorical variables analyzed using the Chi-square or Fisher's exact test and continuous variables using descriptive statistics.