LOW-DOSE, SHORT-DURATION THERAPY FOR THE ERADICATION OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI IN PATIENTS WITH DUODENAL-ULCER

Objective: To study the efficacy and acceptability of low dose, short duration triple therapy in eradicating Helicobacter pylori from patients with duodenal ulcer. Design: A prospective study of 105 patients with H. pylori associated duodenal ulcer presenting consecutively to a regional Melbourne general hospital and a local private endoscopy clinic. Interventions: Patients were treated with H-2-antagonists (if required), followed by two weeks of triple therapy consisting of colloidal bismuth subcitrate (Denol) one tablet four times daily between meals, tetracycline hydrochloride 250 mg four times daily and metronidazole 400 mg twice daily. Four weeks, and again 12 months after treatment, patients were assessed by gastroscopy and antral biopsy for ulceration and H. pylori as measured by rapid urease test. Side effects of treatment were documented. Results: Four patients withdrew because of drug side effects. Of 101 patients completing treatment, H. pylori was eradicated in 91 (90%, or 87% of total). Eight of the 10 patients in whom initial treatment failed received one or more further courses of triple therapy, with H. pylori being eradicated in five. Mild nausea occurred in 6% and possible candida infection in 3%. Of 68 patients who were reassessed after 12 months, 66 were still clear of H. pylori but, in four, small superficial ulcers were present. Two patients were positive for H. pylori, one with and one without ulceration, giving an H. pylori recurrence rate of 3% and an ulcer recurrence rate of 7%. Conclusions: This particular regimen of triple therapy was highly effective, safe and acceptable and could be offered to all patients with H. pylori associated duodenal ulcer.