[Azithromycin versus amoxicillin in triple therapy for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection]

To establish if azithromycin, in association with omeprazole and metronidazole, is effective to eradicate Helicobacter pylori, compared to amoxicillin in triple therapy.

Two hundred consecutive patients with duodenal ulcer and Helicobacter pylori infection were enrolled in the study: group a) 100 patients (69 males, 31 females; mean age 47.61 years; range 23-75); group b) 100 patients (70 males, 30 females; mean age 45.56 years; range 22-72). Group a) omeprazole 20 mg od, azithromycin 500 mg od the first three and the last three days of association with metronidazole, this one 250 mg qid, for ten days; group b) omeprazole 20 mg od, amoxicillin 1 g bid, metronidazole 250 mg qid for ten days. Omeprazole was continued for other four weeks in each treatment with the same dosage.

In group a ulcer healing was observed in 89 patients (89 %), while in group b in 93 patients (93%) (p=n.s.). Helicobacter pylori infection was eradicated in group a in 70 patients (70 %), while in group b in 78 patients (78 %) (p=n.s.). Side effects in 11 patients (5.5 %), in particular: group a 5 (5 %), group b 6 (6 %) (p=n.s.).

Azithromycin could be proposed for treatment of Helicobacter pylori eradication.