Efficacy and Safety of Minocycline-Containing Bismuth Quadruple Therapies Versus Standard First-Line Bismuth Quadruple Therapies for

backgroundGrowing antibiotic resistance and the limited availability of key components in standard Helicobacter pylori treatments have driven the search for effective alternatives. Minocycline, with its broad-spectrum activity and favorable pharmacokinetics, has emerged as a promising substitute. This meta-analysis compares the safety and efficacy of minocycline-containing bismuth quadruple therapy (MBQT) to conventional first-line BQT regimens, incorporating data from the recent study by Lin et al. Methods: The inclusion criteria were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with a target population of both treatment-naïve and previously treated patients diagnosed with Helicobacter pylori (

resultsFive RCTs with 7 interventions involving 2812 patients were included. The pooled odds ratio (OR) for MBQT in intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis was 1.25 (95% CI: 0.96-1.61), showing a non-significant trend. No heterogeneity was detected (I DISCUSSION: the number of included RCTs was modest, with only five studies meeting eligibility criteria, and only two contributing to the modified intention-to-treat analysis. The risk-of-bias assessment showed variation in methodological quality across the included studies. Several studies exhibited high risk judgments in critical domains. particularly randomization, deviations from intervention, and selective reporting. Patients who completed the treatment benefited more from MBQT, which also had a comparable safety profile to conventional BQT regimens. In the treatment of