COMPARISON OF 2 LANSOPRAZOLE-ANTIBIOTIC COMBINATIONS (AMOXICILLIN OR CLASSICAL TRIPLE THERAPY) FOR TREATMENT OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI INFECTION IN DUODENAL-ULCER PATIENTS

Aim: To compare the eradicating capacity of two different antibiotic-l ansoprazole combinations (amoxycillin vs, standard triple therapy) wit h that of lansoprazole alone in Helicobacter pylori-positive duodenal ulcer patients. Methods: Ninety-six out-patients with H. pylori-positi ve duodenal ulcer were randomly assigned to receive one of the followi ng three antiulcer regimens: (1) lansoprazole 30 mg b.d, for 4 weeks p lus amoxycillin 1 g t.d.s. during the last 2 weeks; or (2) lansoprazol e 30 mg once daily for 4 weeks plus classical triple therapy (tripotas sium dicitratobismuthate 240 mg b.d., amoxycillin 1 g t.d.s. and tinid azole 500 mg b.d.) for the last 2 weeks; or (3) lansoprazole 30 mg onc e daily for 4 weeks. Endoscopy was repeated at the end of treatment an d 1 month later. A rapid urease test and histology were used to determ ine H. pylori status. Results: Duodenal ulcer healing rates at 4 weeks were 96% after both lansoprazole with amoxycillin, and lansoprazole w ith triple therapy, and 97% after lansoprazole alone, Eradication of H . pylori was significantly better with lansoprazole with triple therap y than with either lansoprazole with amoxycillin or lansoprazole alone (90% vs, 55% vs. 3%, respectively). Conclusion: Classical triple ther apy combined with lansoprazole is significantly more effective than th e lansoprazole with amoxycillin combination for the eradication of H. pylori in duodenal ulcer patients pre-treated with lansoprazole.