DUAL THERAPY VERSUS TRIPLE THERAPY FOR HELICOBACTER-PYLORI-ASSOCIATEDDUODENAL-ULCERS

We compared the ulcer healing effect and eradication of H. pylori by o ne-week triple therapy of bismuth, metronidazole, and tetracycline wit h two-week dual therapy of amoxicillin and omeprazole. One hundred twe lve patients with confirmed H. pylori infection and duodenal ulcers we re recruited in a prospective, randomized, single-blinded trial. Ulcer healing, eradication of H. pylori in the stomach six weeks after rand omization, and side effects reported by patients during the therapy. D uodenal ulcers were healed in 44 of 49 (89.8%, 95%, CI 81.3-98.3%) pat ients receiving triple therapy and in 44 of 53 (83.0%, 95% CI 72.9-93. 1%) patients receiving dual therapy (P = 0.32). H, pylori was successf ully eradicated in 41 of 49 (83.6%, 95% CI 73.4-94%) patients and in 4 0 of 53 (75.5%, 95% CI 63.9-87.1%) patients in the triple therapy grou p and the dual therapy group respectively (P = 0.31). Side effects exp erienced by patients who received triple therapy were significantly mo re frequent than those who received dual therapy (P = 0.0076). In conc lusion, a two-week course of omeprazole and amoxicillin achieves a com parable rate of H. pylori eradication and ulcer healing with fewer sid e effects.