LANSOPRAZOLE PLUS CLARITHROMYCIN - EVALUATION OF A NEW DUAL THERAPY FOR HELICOBACTER-PYLORI ERADICATION

The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of lansoprazole plus clarithromycin for eradication of Helicobacter pylo ri A total of 26 patients with H. pylori infection were randomised to receive clarithromycin, 500 mg t.i.d, for 14 days, plus either lansopr azole, 30 mg o.m., (group L30, n=13) or lansoprazole, 30 mg b,i,d., (g roup L60, n=13), H, pylori status was determined pre-treatment and fou r to six weeks after completion of the study medication by histology a nd C-13-urea breath test, Two patients were unable to complete the cou rse of medication, Of the remaining 24 patients, 14 (58%) successfully eradicated H, pylori - 8/12 (67%) patients in group L30 and 6/12 (50% ) in group L60, Side-effects were experienced by 17/26 (65%) of patien ts, most commonly a taste disturbance, The results from this pilot stu dy suggest that dual therapy with lansoprazole plus clarithromycin is only a moderately effective regimen for eradicating H. pylori.