Ranitidine bismuth citrate plus clarithromycin: a dual therapy regimen for patients with duodenal ulcer.

BACKGROUND

The combination of ranitidine bismuth citrate (RBC) and clarithromycin (CLR) was compared with each treatment alone for the eradication of H. pylori and healing of duodenal ulcers in patients infected with H. pylori.

METHODS

This two-phase, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study evaluated 203 patients with an active duodenal ulcer treated with either (1) RBC 400 mg BID for 4 weeks plus CLR 500 mg TID for the first 2 weeks; (2) RBC 400 mg BID for 4 weeks plus placebo TID for the first 2 weeks; (3) placebo BID for 4 weeks plus CLR 500 mg TID for the first 2 weeks; or (4) placebo BID for 4 weeks plus placebo TID for the first 2 weeks. Patients with healed ulcers after treatment entered a 24-week observation phase for the assessment of H. pylori and ulcer relapse.

RESULTS

Four-week ulcer healing rates were higher with RBC + CLR (71%) and RBC alone (66%) compared with placebo (15%; p < 0.05) and CLR alone (49%). H. pylori eradication rates were significantly higher with RBC + CLR (86%) compared with RBC alone (0%, p < .001) or CLR alone (24%, p < .001). Ulcer recurrence rates after 6 months were lower in patients eradicated of H. pylori infection (17%) compared with patients who remained infected (43%). All treatments were well tolerated.

CONCLUSIONS

Ranitidine bismuth citrate plus clarithromycin is a simple, convenient, and well-tolerated dual therapy regimen that is effective in eradicating H. pylori and healing duodenal ulcers in patients infected with H. pylori. The eradication of H. pylori in patients with healed ulcers significantly reduces the rate of ulcer relapse.