Maconi G, Bordi C, Cesana B, Pilato F P, Damilano I, Franceschi M, Annibale B
Gastrointestinal Unit, L. Sacco University Hospital, Milan, Italy.
Ital J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 1997 Dec;29(6):501-6.
It has been reported that dual therapy with high doses of omeprazole and amoxycillin proves efficient for Helicobacter pylori eradication.
To compare the efficacy, safety and tolerability of eradicating regimens with omeprazole/amoxycillin.
In this randomized multicentre study, 267 duodenal ulcer patients were treated for 2 weeks with omeprazole 40 bid (Group A) or 20 mg bid (Group B), respectively, and with amoxycillin 0.5 g. qid followed by 4 weeks of 20 mg omeprazole om. Helicobacter pylori status was assessed by both histology and urease test in the antrum and the corpus. The patients were then followed-up for 9 months.
Helicobacter pylori infection was cured in 62.9% of group A (95% CI: 53.8-71.4) and in 44.8% of group B (95% CI: 35.6-54.3; p = 0.007). Healing was achieved in 91.9% of patients in group A (95% CI:85.7-96.1), and in 87.9% of patients in group B (95% CI:80.6-93.2). The estimated probability of being in ulcer remission for cured patients was 0.95 (95% CI: 0.90-0.99) and for the not cured was 0.41 (95% CI: 0.24-0.59; p = 0.0001). However, between the two treatment groups no significant differences in symptom relief or ulcer recurrence were observed. Both regimens were well tolerated with minor side-effects occurring likewise within the two groups. At two months in cured patients antral histology revealed a total (group A + B) prevalence of 13.7% of active chronic gastritis.
This long-term, large-size study clearly indicates that dual therapy does not represent a truly effective eradication therapy and this regime cannot be recommended.
