Limited usefulness of a seven-day twice-a-day quadruple therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To test the usefulness of a twice-a-day, simplified quadruple therapy to cure Helicobacter pylori infection.


METHODS
Helicobacter pylori-positive ulcer patients were treated with omeprazole 20 mg twice a day (b.d.), amoxicillin 1 g b.d., tinidazole 500 mg b.d. and bismuth subcitrate 240 mg b.d. for 7 days in an experimental, noncomparative pilot study.


METHODS
The gastroenterology unit of a county hospital.


METHODS
Forty-four consecutive patients with peptic ulcer disease and H. pylori infection.


METHODS
Cure was tested by either endoscopy or breath test after 2 months, and by urea breath test 6 months after therapy.


RESULTS
One patient was lost to follow-up. Of the remaining 43, 37 were cured at the first control, giving an intention-to-treat cure rate of 84.1% (95% CI 69-93%) and a per protocol cure rate of 86% (95% CI 71-94%). Thirty-three cured patients agreed to return for a six-month breath test. All but one were cured (long-term per protocol cure rate 82.1%; 95% CI 66-92%).


CONCLUSIONS
This particular quadruple therapy is well tolerated and easy to comply with. However, cure rates did not reach 90%.
Garcia
N
N
Department of Surgery, Corporació Sanitària Parc Tauli, Sabadell, Spain.
Calvet
X
X
Gené
E
E
Campo
R
R
Brullet
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D014011:Tinidazole / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D014011:Tinidazole; D000658:Amoxicillin; C002791:bismuth tripotassium dicitrate; D009853:Omeprazole