EFFECT OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI ERADICATION ON THE HEALING AND RECURRENCE OF PEPTIC-ULCER - COMBINATION THERAPY WITH LOW-DOSE OMEPRAZOLE AND CLARITHROMYCIN

Aim: To investigate the effect of eradication of Helicobacter pylori u sing combination therapy with low-dose omeprazole and clarithromycin o n the healing and recurrence of peptic ulcers. Patients and methods: W e studied 60 patients with active duodenal ulcers and 60 with gastric ulcers who were H. pylori-positive by the rapid urease test and a hist ological examination of antral biopsy specimens. The eradication metho d used was a combination of omeprazole (20 mg a day) and clarithromyci n (400 mg twice a day). The patients were followed up for 24 months af ter the end of the treatment. H. pylori infection and the ulcer stage were investigated by endoscopy every 6 months. We assessed the relatio nship between H. pylori infection, ulcer healing to a white scar and u lcer recurrence after combination therapy. Results: H. pylori was erad icated in 23 out of 120 patients (22%), with suppression in 101 out of 120 patients (84%). The rate of ulcer healing to a white scar 6 month s after treatment was significantly higher and the ulcer recurrence ra te within 2 years after treatment was significantly lower in patients with H. pylori suppression or eradication than in those continuously p ositive for the organism. Conclusions: These results suggest that not only the eradication but also the suppression of H. pylori may improve ulcer healing and reduce the rate of relapse.