Errors in a Meta-analysis of Treatments for <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> Infection
Authors: Luigi Gatta, Francesco Di Mario, Angelo Zullo, Dino Vaira
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2008)

Letters4 November 2008Errors in a Meta-analysis of Treatments for Helicobacter pylori InfectionLuigi Gatta, MD, Francesco Di Mario, MD, Angelo Zullo, MD, and Dino Vaira, MDLuigi Gatta, MDFrom Versilia Hospital, 55041 Lido di Camaiore; University of Parma, 43100 Parma; Ospedale Nuovo Regina Margherita, 00153 Rome; and University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy., Francesco Di Mario, MDFrom Versilia Hospital, 55041 Lido di Camaiore; University of Parma, 43100 Parma; Ospedale Nuovo Regina Margherita, 00153 Rome; and University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy., Angelo Zullo, MDFrom Versilia Hospital, 55041 Lido di Camaiore; University of Parma, 43100 Parma; Ospedale Nuovo Regina Margherita, 00153 Rome; and University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy., and Dino Vaira, MDFrom Versilia Hospital, 55041 Lido di Camaiore; University of Parma, 43100 Parma; Ospedale Nuovo Regina Margherita, 00153 Rome; and University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy.Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-149-9-200811040-00014 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:We read with great interest the meta-analysis by Jafri and colleagues (1) on sequential treatment for Helicobacter pylori infection. We disagree with the authors' choice to include in the pooled analysis the data of De Francesco and colleagues (2) because the analysis compared the sequential treatment with a 5-day ranitidinebismuthcitrate therapy, which cannot be considered a standard triple therapy (3). Concerning clarithromycin resistance, De Francesco and colleagues (4) included 22 patients (instead of 81 as reported by the authors) with clarithromycin-resistant strains who were treated with the sequential treatment and 16 patients (instead of 75) with clarithromycin-resistant ...References1. Jafri NS, Hornung CA, Howden CW. Meta-analysis: sequential therapy appears superior to standard therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection in patients naive to treatment. Ann Intern Med. 2008;148:923-31. [PMID: 18490667] LinkGoogle Scholar2. De Francesco V, Zullo A, Hassan C, Faleo D, Ierardi E, Panella C; Two new treatment regimens for Helicobacter pylori eradication: a randomised study. Dig Liver Dis. 2001;33:676-9. [PMID: 11785713] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Malfertheiner P, Megraud F, O'Morain C, Bazzoli F, El-Omar E, Graham D; Current concepts in the management of Helicobacter pylori infection: the Maastricht III Consensus Report. Gut. 2007;56:772-81. [PMID: 17170018] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. De Francesco V, Margiotta M, Zullo A, Hassan C, Troiani L, Burattini O; Clarithromycin-resistant genotypes and eradication of Helicobacter pylori. Ann Intern Med. 2006;144:94-100. [PMID: 16418408] LinkGoogle Scholar5. Vaira D, Zullo A, Vakil N, Gatta L, Ricci C, Perna F; Sequential therapy versus standard triple-drug therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2007;146:556-63. [PMID: 17438314] LinkGoogle Scholar6. Zullo A, Vaira D, Vakil N, Hassan C, Gatta L, Ricci C; High eradication rates of Helicobacter pylori with a new sequential treatment. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2003;17:719-26. [PMID: 12641522] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Luigi Gatta, MD; Francesco Di Mario, MD; Angelo Zullo, MD; Dino Vaira, MDAffiliations: From Versilia Hospital, 55041 Lido di Camaiore; University of Parma, 43100 Parma; Ospedale Nuovo Regina Margherita, 00153 Rome; and University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy.Disclosures: None disclosed. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoClarithromycin-Resistant Genotypes and Eradication of Helicobacter pylori Vincenzo De Francesco , Marcella Margiotta , Angelo Zullo , Cesare Hassan , Laura Troiani , Osvaldo Burattini , Francesca Stella , Alfredo Di Leo , Francesco Russo , Stefania Marangi , Rosa Monno , Vincenzo Stoppino , Sergio Morini , Carmine Panella , and Enzo Ierardi Sequential Therapy versus Standard Triple-Drug Therapy for Helicobacter pylori Eradication Dino Vaira , Angelo Zullo , Nimish Vakil , Luigi Gatta , Chiara Ricci , Federico Perna , Cesare Hassan , Veronica Bernabucci , Andrea Tampieri , and Sergio Morini Meta-analysis: Sequential Therapy Appears Superior to Standard Therapy for Helicobacter pylori Infection in Patients Naive to Treatment Nadim S. Jafri , Carlton A. Hornung , and Colin W. Howden Errors in a Meta-analysis of Treatments for Helicobacter pylori Infection Nadim S. Jafri and Colin W. Howden Metrics Cited byComparing the Efficacy of Sequential and Standard Quadruple Therapy for Eradication of H. Pylori InfectionStatistical controversies in clinical research: overlap and errors in the meta-analyses of microRNA genetic association studies in cancersSequential Therapy vs Quadruple Therapy for Helicobacter pylori Eradication in South West of IranThe sequential therapy regimen for Helicobacter pylori eradicationSequential therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication: the time is now! 4 November 2008Volume 149, Issue 9Page: 686KeywordsConflicts of interestHelicobacter pylori infectionPatients ePublished: 4 November 2008 Issue Published: 4 November 2008 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2008 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...