ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of esomeprazole- and omeprazole-based triple therapy regimens in the treatment of duodenal ulcer with Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection. METHODS: Totally 104 patients with duodenal ulcer and Hp infection were randomly divided into group A (52 cases) treated with esomeprazole (20 mg), amoxicillin (1000 mg) and clarithromycin (500 mg) twice daily and group B (52 cases) treated with omeprazole (20 mg), amoxicillin (1000 mg) and clarithromycin (500 mg) twice daily. The treatment lasted for 7 days, after which abdominal pain relief rate, ulcer healing rate and eradication rate of Hp as well as adverse effects of the medication were evaluated and compared. RESULTS: On the first and second days of medication, the abdominal pain relief rates were 34.6% and 59.6% respectively in group A, significantly higher than those in group B (17.3% and 38.5%, respectively, P<0.05). Ulcer healing rate and Hp eradication rate were 92.3% and 88.5 % in group A, and 88.5% and 82.7% in group B, showing no significant differences between the two groups (P>0.05). The adverse effects of the medication were rare in both groups without significant differences. CONCLUSION: Esomeprazole-based triple therapy may effectively eradicate Hp infection and promote duodenal ulcer healing with good tolerance, capable of achieving more speedy pain relief than omeprazole-based therapy.