OMEPRAZOLE VERSUS RANITIDINE - SHORT-TERM TRIPLE-THERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH HELICOBACTER PYLORI-POSITIVE DUODENAL-ULCERS

Aim: To compare the results of two short triple-therapy regimens, diff erent only in the antisecretory drugs used, in patients with active du odenal ulcer and Helicobacter pylori infection, Methods: All patients received a combination of clarithromycin 250 mg b.d. and tinidazole 50 0 mg b.d. for 1 week, in addition to an antisecretory drug: omeprazole 20 mg (50 patients) or ranitidine 300 mg (50 patients) twice daily fo r 1 week, followed by a single daily dose for a further 3 weeks, Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, with rapid urease test and histological e xamination of antral and corpus biopsies, was performed prior to the t reatment and at least 2 months after the discontinuation of the antise cretory therapy, Results: Duodenal ulcer healing was documented in all patients at the endoscopic examination after therapy. H. pylori eradi cation was achieved in 46 of 50 patients (92%, 95% CI = 85-99%) in the omeprazole group and in 43 of 50 patients (86%, 95% CI = 76-96%) in t he ranitidine group; the difference is not significant, Conclusion: Om eprazole or ranitidine, in combination with clarithromycin and tinidaz ole, are equally effective in the eradication of H. pylori infection a nd healing of duodenal ulcers.