[Eradication of Helicobacter pylori. Effectiveness of a combination of ranitidine and metronidazole/roxithromycin].

PATIENTS: Thirty-five patients with endoscopically confirmed duodenal ulcer, histological evidence of Helicobacter pylori, and a history of at least two symptomatic recurrent ulcers consecutively attending a doctor's office were entered into a study investigating the eradication of Helicobacter pylori.

TREATMENT: Ranitidine two times 300 mg and roxithromycin two times 300 mg daily for 12 days, together with metronidazole three times 500 mg daily for the first ten days. To achieve final healing of the ulcer, treatment was then continued for a further 16 days with 300 mg ranitidine nocte.

RESULTS

Six weeks after the start of treatment, 32 of the 35 patients were Helicobacter pylori-negative and their ulcers had all healed completely. Five of the 35 patients reported mild side effects (diarrhea, temporary nausea).