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

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.