One week triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori associated duodenal ulcer disease

Eradication of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) cures and prevents the relapse of duodenal ulceration. Different treatment regimes for the eradication of H. pylori have been used and the most successful eradication regimens have been one week treatments with a proton pump inhibitor and two antibiotics.

To examine the eradication rate of H. pylori with a one week regimen consisting of OCT (Omeprazole 20 mg BD, Clarithromycin 250 mg BD, Tinidazole 500 mg BD). This treatment regimen has been used for H. pylori eradication in our department since the end of 1996.

Patients diagnosed to have duodenal ulcer in 1997 were retrospectively reviewed. Infection with H. pylori must be documented either by gastric biopsy or by a positive CLO test. Eradication of H. pylori was confirmed by negative 14C urea breath test or by histology at least four weeks after cessation of therapy.

The review was performed on 251 patients. There were 177 males, 74 females. The median age was 51 (18-77) years. H. pylori infection was confirmed by CLO test in 170 patients and by histology in 72 patients. Thirty patients did not undergo further investigation after therapy to confirm the eradication. Of the remaining 221 patients, H. pylori was successfully eradicated in 198 patients (89.6%) as confirmed by 14C urea breath test (190 patients) or repeat gastroscopy and gastric biopsy (31 patients). There were no serious adverse events documented.

Our retrospective study showed that the one week regimen used in our department is effective for the eradication of H. pylon in nearly 90% of infected cases.