EFFICACY OF TRIPLE THERAPY IN ERADICATION OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI AND DUODENAL-ULCER HEALING - A 6-MONTH FOLLOW-UP-STUDY

Helicobacter pylori plays an important role in the pathogenesis of pep tic ulcer disease, and many therapy regimens have been used to eradica te it. Aim: To assess the efficacy of triple therapy in duodenal ulcer patients, in ulcer healing and eradication of H. pylori, early after treatment and 6 months later. Methods: In a prospective study, 32 pati ents with duodenal ulcer disease and H, pylori infection were studied, Biopsy specimens from the duodenal bulb, antrum, body and gastric fun dus were taken and were analyzed by a microbiology (Gram and specific culture) and histology process (hematoxylin and eosin), Ah patients we re treated with triple therapy (bismuth, tetracyclin and metronidazole ). Patients were investigated endoscopically one month after cessation the triple therapy and 4 months later, with taking of antrum and body biopsy specimens. Results: During the therapy, adverse events were el ucidated in 3 patients (9.4%), Eradication (no evidence on ongoing H, pylori infection 4 wk after cessation treatment) was obtained in 26 pa tients (81.25%). Eradication reached 92% when H. pylori was metronidaz ole sensitive (N:25; 78.13%) and 42.86% (p<0.05) when it was resistant . Reinfection rate was 3.85% (N=1). Healing ulcer was observed in 28 p atients (87.5%) 1 month after cessation of treatment, When triple ther apy regimen was successful the healing rate was 96.15%, and it was 50% (p<0.05) when it failed., Conclusion: Triple therapy (with low doses of metronidazole, and tetracyclins) has a high efficacy (81.25%) in th e eradication of H. pylori (metronidazole sensitivity plays an importa nt role), with few (9.4%) and non-serious adverse events. Healing rate is 96.15% when eradication is obtained and 50%(p<0.05) when it failed .