[Oral triple therapy for eradication of Helicobacter pylori in duodenal ulcer disease].

25 patients with Helicobacter pylori-associated active duodenal ulcer disease (bleeding: n = 5, penetrating: n = 1, stenosis of the bulb: n = 4, frequent ulcer relapse: n = 18) were treated with 3 x 600 mg bismuth subsalicylate (BSS), 3 x 400 mg metronidazole and 3 x 500 mg tetracycline in addition to 300 mg ranitidine. 23 out of 25 patients (92%) proved to be Helicobacter pylori-negative four weeks after cessation of study medication as judged from negative urease test, specific culture and histology after modified Giemsa staining. 24/25 ulcers (96%) had healed after six weeks. In one patient on NSAIDs a small duodenal ulcer was detected on the final endoscopic examination despite successful Helicobacter pylori eradication. Twelve out of 25 (48%) patients complained side effects that did not lead to discontinuation of therapy. In conclusion, oral triple therapy with BSS, metronidazole and tetracycline is highly effective in Helicobacter pylori eradication, but there was a rather high rate of more or less serious side effects, diminishing the attractiveness of this therapeutic regimen.