DUODENAL-ULCER HEALING AFTER 7-DAY TREATMENT - A PILOT-STUDY WITH LANSOPRAZOLE, AMOXICILLIN AND CLARITHROMYCIN

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a one-week triple th erapy without bismuth and metronidazole in duodenal ulcer healing and symptom relief. Patients and methods: Forty-five patients with duodena l ulcers and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infections were given a 7 -day treatment with lansoprazole 30 mg bid, amoxicillin 1.000 mg bid, and clarithromycin 500 mg bid. Endoscopies with urease tests and histo logic examinations were performed before initiation and four weeks aft er cessation of therapy. Results. Using efficacy analysis, 41 of 42 du odenal ulcers (98%; 95% CI 0.87-1.00) were healed after one week of tr eatment. H. pylori was eradicated in 40 of 42 patients (95%; 95% CI 0. 84-1.00). Two patients with healed ulcers showed a persistent infectio n, whereas H. pylori was eradicated in the one patient with persisting ulcer. Using intention-to-treat analysis, ulcer healing was achieved in 41 of 45 (91%, 95% CI 0.79-0,98) and H. pylori eradication in 40 of 45 patients (89%; 95% CI 0.76-0.96). After a mean of five days, 40 of 41 patients (98%; 95% CI 0.87-1.00) with ulcer healing became complet ely pain-free. Conclusions One-week therapy with lansoprazole, amoxici llin and clarithromycin is highly effective in duodenal ulcer healing and symptom improvement. Prolonged acid suppression does not seem to b e essential for duodenal ulcer treatment.