[Helicobacter pylori eradication: triple therapy versus dual therapy]

For the eradication of Helicobacter pylori using dual therapy, the combination of a PPI with clarithromycin is clearly superior to PPI and amoxicillin. At the present time, a modified triple therapy, largely a PPI plus macrolide plus imidazole antibiotics, should be given preference as a cure of Helicobacter pylori infection. The short--one week--duration of the treatment means better tolerability, fewer side-effects and improved patient compliance. The high cure rate achieved with this form of treatment results in a favourable cost-benefit ratio. Overall, this form of therapy should overcome the reservations, still to be found, regarding the use of Helicobacter pylori eradication as optimal treatment of patients with peptic ulcer.