One-year follow-up of duodenal ulcers after 1-wk triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori.
OBJECTIVE
to study the ulcer recurrence rate of Helicobacter pylori-positive duodenal ulcers at 1 yr after eradication of the bacteria by triple therapy.


METHODS
Patients with H. pylori-positive duodenal ulcers were randomized to receive either triple therapy for 1 wk plus omeprazole for 4 wk (Triple+OMP) (n = 78), or omeprazole alone (OMP) for 4 wk (N = 77). Patients were followed up every 3 months for symptom enquiry. At 1 yr, all asymptomatic patients were invited to attend for gastroscopy.


RESULTS
At 8 wk, 16 patients in the OMP group and four in the Triple+OMP group had an ulcer. During the 1-yr period, 12 patients in the OMP group and no patient in the Triple+OMP group developed symptomatic ulcers. At follow-up endoscopy at 1 yr, another 10 ulcers were detected in the OMP group and two in the Triple+OMP group. Fifteen patients in the OMP group and 13 in the Triple+OMP group were lost to follow-up. In total, ulcers were detected in 39 of 61 (64%) assessable patients in the OMP group, and in six of 65 (9%) assessable patients in the Triple+OMP group after 1 yr (chi 2 test: p < 0.001). Of the patients whose H. pylori were successfully eradicated by Triple+OMP at 8 wk, 90% remained H. pylori negative at 1 yr.


CONCLUSIONS
Triple therapy for 1 wk eradicates H. pylori infection and significantly reduces duodenal ulcer relapses.
Sung
J J
JJ
Department of Medicine, Prince of Wales Hospital, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin.
Chung
S C
SC
Ling
T K
TK
Yung
M Y
MY
Cheng
A F
AF
Hosking
S W
SW
Li
A K
AK
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004381:Duodenal Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012008:Recurrence; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000008:administration & dosage
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D008795:Metronidazole; D013752:Tetracycline; C002791:bismuth tripotassium dicitrate; D009853:Omeprazole