Eradication therapy with rabeprazole versus omeprazole in the treatment of active duodenal ulcer.
BACKGROUND
Rabeprazole has been demonstrated to be a potent antisecretory agent and has been shown to be clinically effective in the treatment of acid-related diseases.


OBJECTIVE
It was to determine the efficacy of rabeprazole at 20 and 40 mg in addition to amoxicillin and clarithromycin in the treatment of active Helicobacter pylori-positive duodenal ulcers compared with omeprazole 40 mg.


METHODS
One hundred and twenty-seven patients were randomised into three treatment groups: 40 patients were treated with rabeprazole 40 mg daily, 42 patients with rabeprazole 20 mg daily and 45 patients with omeprazole 40 mg daily for 10 days. All patients received amoxicillin 1 g twice a day and clarithromycin 500 mg twice a day for 5 days. All patients were re-assessed at least 4 weeks after the end of the treatment.


RESULTS
According to the intention-to-treat (ITT) protocol, ulcer healing was observed in 90% of patients in the rabeprazole 40 group, in 85.7% in the rabeprazole 20 group and in 93.3% in the omeprazole 40 group. We observed H. pylori eradication in 90% ITT in the rabeprazole 40 group, in 80.9% ITT in the rabeprazole 20 group and in 88.8% ITT in the omeprazole 40 group. Statistical analysis did not show significant differences among the three groups.


CONCLUSIONS
A 10-day rabeprazole 20 mg regimen represents an efficacious and safe regimen for H. pylori eradication and ulcer healing.
Catalano
F
F
Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy Service, University of Catania, Garibaldi Hospital, Catania, Italy. f.catalano@mbox.unict.it
Terminella
C
C
Branciforte
G
G
Bentivegna
C
C
Brogna
A
A
Scalia
A
A
D053799:2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles; D000328:Adult; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004381:Duodenal Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D006180:Proton-Translocating ATPases / Q000627:therapeutic use; D064750:Rabeprazole
D053799:2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D064750:Rabeprazole; D000658:Amoxicillin; D006180:Proton-Translocating ATPases; D017291:Clarithromycin; D009853:Omeprazole