Background, Omeprazole is mainly metabolized by cytochrome P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) in the liver. Rabeprazole, on the other hand, is mainly metabolized to thioether-rabeprazole via a non-enzymatic pathway and partially metabolized to demethylated-rabeprazole by CYP2C19 in liver. CYP2C19 status may affect cure rate for Helicobacter pylori infection with proton pump inhibitor triple therapy. Aim. To investigate whether genetic polymorphism of CYP2C19 and selected proton pump inhibitors (omeprazole or rabeprazole) were associated with cure rate for Helicobacter pylori infection using triple therapy with omeprazole or rabeprazole, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin. Methods. A total of 170 Helicobacter pylori-positive patients with chronic gastritis were randomized to receive one of the following Helicobacter pylori eradication regimens; DAC (omeprazole 20 mg bd, amoxycillin 750 mg bd and clarithromycin 400 mg bd for I week) and PAC (rabeprazole 20 mg bd, amoxycillin 750 mg bd and clarithromycin 400 mg bd for I week). The CYP2C19 genotype; wild-type or two mutant genes (m1 in exon 5 and m2 in exon 4), or both, were identified by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results. In OAC regimen, cure I-ate (per protocol analysis) was 73.3% in homozygous extensive metabolizers, 86.1% in heterozygous extensive metabolizers, and 85.0% in poor metabolizers. In PAC regimen, the cure rate was 81.0% in homozygous extensive metabolizers, 82.9% in heterozygous extensive metabolizers, and 87.5% in poor metabolizers. Cure rate was not significantly different between the CYP2C19 genotypes in both regimens. Conclusion. Triple therapy with proton pump inhibitor (omeprazole or rabeprazole), amoxycillin, and clarithromycin is sufficiently effective in cure of Helicobacter pylori infection regardless of CYP2C19 status.
