Head-to-head comparison of 1-week triple regimens combining ranitidine or omeprazole with two antibiotics to eradicate Helicobacter pylori.

Background: Triple therapies containing omeprazole and ranitidine have been shown to be equivalent in eradicating H. pylori infection, but have been a ssessed either separately or head-to-head, only in small trials. Aim: To carry out a large randomized controlled study comparing omeprazole and ranitidine combined with two antibiotic combinations for 1 week. Methods: Three hundred and twenty H, pylori-positive patients were randomly subdivided into four equal-sized groups and received one of the following treatments: OAM = omeprazole 20 mg b.d. + amoxycillin 1 g b,d. + metronidaz ole 500 mg b.d,: RAM = ranitidine 300 mg b,d. + amoxycillin 1 g b,d, + metr onidazole 500 mg b,d,: OAC = omeprazole 20 mg b,d, + amoxycillin 1 g b,d, clarithromycin 250 mg t.d.s,; RAC = ranitidine 300 mg b.d. + amoxycillin 1 g b,d, + clarithromycin 250 mg t.d.s. The assessment of H. pylori status w as performed before and 4 weeks after the end of therapy by means of CLO-te st. and histology, H. pylori infection was considered to be eradicated when both tests were negative. Results: OAM and RAM eradicated H. pylori in 89% and 85% of cases on per pr otocol (P = 0.48) and in 77% and 75% of cases on intention-to-treat analyse s (P = 0.71). OAC and RAC eradicated H, pylori in 67% and 70% of cases on p er protocol (P = 0.68) and in 57% and 64% of cases on intention-to-treat an alyses (P = 0.41). In contrast, there was significant difference between OA M and OAC (P < 0.01) and between RAM and RAC (P < 0.05), Side-effects occur red in 15%, 10%, 17% and 16% of patients with respect to the above four sub groups. Conclusions: Omeprazole and ranitidine combined with two antibiotics for 1 week are equally effective in the eradication of H. pylori infection, and t hese results question the role of profound acid suppression in the eradicat ion of the bacterium.