title: One-week triple therapy with esomeprazole, clarithromycin and metronidazole provides effective eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the eradication rates of treatment with esomeprazole, metronidazole and clarithromycin (EMC) vs. omeprazole, metronidazole and clarithromycin (OMC), given for 7 days. OMC treatment was followed by 3 weeks of treatment with 20 mg omeprazole alone; the EMC group received placebo.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized, double-blind, controlled study was conducted in 36 Canadian centres. Patients had a minimum 3-month history of dyspepsia, with or without a previous history of peptic ulcer disease, and were Helicobacter pylori positive by urea breath test. The eradication of H. pylori was determined by two negative breath tests performed at least 4 and 8 weeks following the completion of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intention-to-treat and per protocol populations consisted of 379 and 339 patients, respectively. The success rates of EMC/placebo were 76% (144/190) by intention-to-treat and 80% (138/172) by per protocol analysis; for OMC/omeprazole, the rates were 72% (137/189) and 75% (125/167), respectively. The difference between the two treatment groups was not significant. Treatment was well tolerated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A 7-day regimen of esomeprazole, metronidazole and clarithromycin is effective and well tolerated for the eradication of H. pylori infection.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada. Zanten@dal.ca
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Veldhuyzen Van Zanten
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D064098:Esomeprazole; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D010349:Patient Compliance; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D008795:Metronidazole; D017291:Clarithromycin; D009853:Omeprazole; D064098:Esomeprazole