Antral biopsies are enough for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori eradication with the new one-week triple therapies

BACKGROUND: TO evaluate whether antral biopsies are enough for confirming H elicobacter pylori eradication with the anew,, one week triple therapies wi th omeprazole, PATIENTS AND METHODS: 229 duodenal ulcer patients were treated with omepraz ole for 7 days plus two antibiotics. Eradication was confirmed with histolo gy (two biopsies from both gastric antrum and body) and C-13-urea breath te st one month after the end of therapy. RESULTS: H. pylori eradication was achieved in 76.9% of the patients (95% C I: 71-82%). Histology at antrum was highly reliable to detect eradication f ailure: in all but in one case in which H. pylori was observed at gastric b ody, was the microorganism also observed at antrum, Infection prevalences a t both locations were not homogenous (McNemar: 6.4; p < 0.05), Concordance between antral biopsies and breath test for H, pylori diagnosis after thera py was excellent (kappa: 0.91; SE: 0.07), and both prevalences were homogen ous (McNemar: 1.3; p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Taking antral biopsies is enough for confirming H, pylori erad ication with the <<new>> one week triple therapies.