Eradicating helicobacter pylori and symptoms of non-ulcer dyspepsia: The effect of treatment with a combination of ranitidine and amoxicillin.

ABSTRACT

Although dyspepsia frequently occurs in general population, its causes are poorly understood. This study is aimed at determining the role of Helicobacter pylori in non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD) and evaluating the efficacy of dual therapies for H.pylori. Two groups totaling of 39 patients with endoscopically-proven NUD participated in the study. One group, comprising of 23 patients, received 300 mg of ranitidine daily for 4 weeks together with 500 mg of amoxicillin four time a day for two weeks. The second group, comprising of 16 patients, received GacidaTM 1 tablet for 4 weeks together with 500 mg of amoxicillin four time a day for 2 weeks respectively. H.pylori status was determined by histology and CLO testTM before and in the fourth and eighth week after treatment. Thirty-six patients completed the study, 21 in the ranitidine treatment group and 15 in the GacidaTM group H.pylori was successfully eradication in 47.3 percent (9/21) of ranitidine treatment group. Symptom relief at the second and sixth weeks was significantly higher under ranitidine regimen at 90.47 percent (19/21) and 100 percent (21/21) respectively, compared with the gacida regimen at 46.66 percent (7/15) and 53.33 percent (8/15) respectively. The number of patients who were symptom-free at the sixth week of treatment was significantly higher in the ranitidine group at 71.4 percent (15/21), compared with the gacida group at 20 percent (3/15). We concluded that the ranitidine regimen can relief the symptoms of NUD patients with H.pylori infection. However, the role of H.pylori needs further studies.