RANITIDINE-BISMUTH CITRATE AND CLARITROMYCIN DOUBLE THERAPY AS ALTERNATIVE STRATEGY FOR HELICOBACTER PYLORI TREATMENT

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of a strategy combining ranitidine-bismuth citrate (RBS) and clarithromycin double therapy for Helicobacter pylori (Hp) eradication with dudenal ulcer and/or gastrit 44 patients. Materials and methods: Forty four consecutive Hp-positive patients, with duodenal ulcer and/or gastrit were treated with 400 mg ranitidine-bismuth citrate twice daily for 30 days, 500 mg clarithromycin twice daily for 14 days between April 1998-May 1999. The efficacy of the treatment was evaluated by histology a month after treatment. Results: Forty four patients were 15 male, 29 female (mean age 45.93 +/- 14.03, range 17-85). Epigastric pain (100%), pyrozis, abdominal distension were common symptomes. This symptomes had regressed after treatment. Cure rates were 12/13 (92.3%) duodenal ulcer and 37/44 Hp-positive patients (84.09%). Conclusions: RBS and clarithromycin combination achieve good eradication rates (84.09%). As the first-line therapy avoids the use of RBS and clarithromycin combination, it could be useful in areas where high resistance lead to poor results with triple therapy.