ABSTRACT
The eradication rate of Helicobacter pylori [H. pylori] has been reported as being lower in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus [DM] than in those without DM. The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy of the two H. pylori eradication regimens in patients without and with type 2 DM and to study the effect of H. pylori treatment on glycaemia control. A total of 93 consecutive type 2 DM [non-insulin users] and 98 non-diabetic ageand sex-matched patients were enrolled. Patients were randomly assigned to one of the two treatment protocols all given twice daily: [a] a 14-day quadruple therapy comprising of omeprazole 20 mg, metronidazole 500 mg, amoxicillin 1 g and bismuth subcitrate 240 mg [OMAB] and [b] a 14-day triple regimen comprising of omeprazole 20 mg plus clarithromycin 500 mg and amoxicillin 1 g [OCA]. Cure was defined as a negative 13C-urea breath test at least 6 weeks after treatment. The H. pylori eradication rate with the OCA regimen was 63% in patients with type 2 DM [noninsulin users] and 87.7% in the control group [p = 0.017]. The H. pylori eradication rate with the OMAB regimen was 38.2% in patients with type 2 DM and 55.1% in the control group [p < 0.001]. Mean decrease of fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c level shows no statistically significant difference after H. pylori eradication. This study suggests that the eradication rate of H. pylori with OCA or OMAB treatment is lower in patients with type 2 diabetes than in non-diabetics and H. pylori treatment in patients with type 2 DM has no role in the control of the glycaemia. The triple therapy [OCA] is superior to the quadruple protocol [OMAB] in H. pylori eradication of both DM and non-DM cases