Relapse of Helicobacter pylori infection after different treatment regimens. A 3-month follow-up study.

ABSTRACT

Helicobacter pylori infection of gastric antrum is associated with a majority of cases of peptic ulcer (70-100%). Studies have shown that when this organism is eradicated, the recurrence of ulcer falls to less than one-third of those in whom the infection persists or relapses. Monotherapy with bismuth salts, tinidazone or amoxycillin has been shown to result in early relapse and recurrence of ulcers. However, dual or triple therapy regimens are more effective. We conducted a randomised controlled study using tripotassium dicitrato bismuthate (TDB) (10 patients); amoxycillin (combined with ranitidine for ulcer healing) (9 patients) and dual therapy with both amoxycillin and TDB (10 patients). Our study showed that relapse rates at the end of 3 months was significantly less if dual therapy with TDB and amoxycillin is used as compared to TDB alone (p less than 0.05).