[The effect of "triple therapy" on the eradicating of H. pylori and the healing of a duodenal ulcer. The initial study and 6 months later].

UNLABELLED: Helicobacter pylori plays an important role in the pathogenesis of peptic ulcer disease, and many therapy regimens have been used to eradicate it.

AIM: To assess the efficacy of triple therapy in duodenal ulcer patients, in ulcer healing and eradication of H. pylori, early after treatment and 6 months later.

METHODS

In a prospective study, 32 patients with duodenal ulcer disease and H. pylori infection were studied. Biopsy specimens from the duodenal bulb, antrum, body and gastric fundus were taken and were analyzed by a microbiology (Gram and specific culture) and histology process (hematoxylin and eosin). All patients were treated with triple therapy (bismuth, tetracyclin and metronidazole). Patients were investigated endoscopically one month after cessation the triple therapy and 4 months later, with taking of antrum and body biopsy specimens.

RESULTS

During the therapy, adverse events were elucidated in 3 patients (9.4%). Eradication (no evidence on ongoing H. pylori infection 4 wk after cessation treatment) was obtained in 26 patients (81.25%). Eradication reached 92% when H. pylori was metronidazole sensitive (N:25; 78.13%) and 42.86% (p < 0.05) when it was resistant. Reinfection rate was 3.85% (N = 1). Healing ulcer was observed in 28 patients (87.5%) 1 month after cessation of treatment. When triple therapy regimen was successful the healing rate was 96.15%, and it was 50% (p < 0.05) when it failed.

CONCLUSION

Triple therapy (with low doses of metronidazole, and tetracyclins) has a high efficacy (81.25%) in the eradication of H. pylori (metronidazole sensitivity plays an important role), with few (9.4%) and non-serious adverse events. Healing rate is 96.15% when eradication is obtained and 50% (p < 0.05) when it failed.