One-week low-dose triple therapy vs. two-week medium-dose double therapy for H.pylori infection.
OBJECTIVE
Our study is to compare a short-term low-dose triple therapy with a long-term medium-dose double therapy for H.pylori eradication.


METHODS
One hundred and ten consecutive patients, suffering from dyspeptic symptoms, with H.pylori infection, were randomly allocated to one of the following 2 groups with different therapeutic regimens: A) omeprazole 20 mg/day for 7 days, tinidazole 500 mg bid for 7 days, clarithromycin 250 mg bid for 7 days (55 pts, 20 with peptic ulcer); B) omeprazole 20 mg bid for 14 days, amoxycillin 1000 mg bid for 14 days (55 pts, 28 with peptic ulcer). The "H.pylori status" was evaluated by means of histology, culture and urease test, at entry and 8 weeks after treatment.


RESULTS
Two group A and one group B pts didn't complete the treatment. The H.pylori eradication was obtained in 38 pts of group A (71.69%) (C.I.95%: 55.19176-80.86293), in 31 of group B (58.49%) (C.I.95%: 42.32777-69.7017); on Intention-to-Treat analysis, the rate of eradication gave similar results. Side effects occurred in 9 pts of group A (16.98%), in 8 of group B (14.81%).


CONCLUSIONS
Short-term low-dose triple therapy with omeprazole/tinidazole/clarithromycin has a better cost/benefit ratio than long-term dual therapy with omeprazole/amoxycillin in the H.pylori eradication, but it causes more side-effects.
Tursi
A
A
Department of Internal Medicine-Division of Gastroenterology, Catholic University S.C., Rome, Italy.
Cammarota
G
G
Papa
A
A
Montalto
M
M
Veneto
G
G
Capelli
G
G
Cuoco
L
L
Branca
G
G
Fedeli
G
G
Gasbarrini
G
G
D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000382:microbiology; D014011:Tinidazole / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D010406:Penicillins; D014011:Tinidazole; D000658:Amoxicillin; D017291:Clarithromycin; D009853:Omeprazole