Low-dose omeprazole plus clarithromycin and either tinidazole or amoxycillin for Helicobacter pylori infection.
BACKGROUND
The aim of our study was to compare two 1-week, low-dose triple therapies for Helicobacter pylori eradication.


METHODS
One hundred consecutive patients, suffering from dyspeptic symptoms with H. pylori infection, were randomly allocated to 7 days of treatment with omeprazole 20 mg o.m. plus clarithromycin 250 mg b.d. and either tinidazole 500 mg b.d. (group A: n = 50, 19 with peptic ulcer) or amoxycillin 1000 mg b.d. (group B: n = 50, 20 with peptic ulcer). H. pylori-status was evaluated by means of histology, culture and urease test, at entry and 8 weeks after treatment.


RESULTS
Three patients did not complete the treatment. H. pylori eradication was obtained in 35 patients from group A (73%) (95% CI, 55-82%) and in 40 patients from group B (82%) (95% CI, 66-90%). On intention-to-treat analysis, the rates of eradication were similar. Side-effects occurred in seven patients from group A (14.58%) and in four patients from group B (8.33%), but none discontinued therapy because of side-effects.


CONCLUSIONS
Both triple 1-week, low-dose omeprazole therapies gave good eradication rates with infrequent side-effects.
Tursi
A
A
Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic University S.C., Rome, Italy.
Cammarota
G
G
Montalto
M
M
Papa
A
A
Veneto
G
G
Cuoco
L
L
Trua
F
F
Branca
G
G
Fedeli
G
G
Gasbarrini
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014011:Tinidazole / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D014011:Tinidazole; D000658:Amoxicillin; D017291:Clarithromycin; D009853:Omeprazole