RESUMO
AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of triple therapy containing either omeprazole or ranitidine bismuth citrate (RBC) to treat H. pylori infection in Vietnamese duodenal ulcer patients. METHODS: Patients infected with H. pylori were randomized to receive either omeprazole (20 mg b.d.), clarithromycin (500 mg b.d.) and amoxycillin (1 g b.d.) for 10 days (OAC), or RBC (400 mg b.d.), clarithromycin (500 mg b.d.) and amoxycillin (1 g b.d.) for 10 days (RAC). H. pylori eradication and ulcer healing was established by a follow-up oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) at least 4 weeks after therapy. Side-effects and compliance were assessed. RESULTS: One hundred and four out of 108 (96%) patients with a duodenal ulcer were infected with H. pylori. Eighty per cent of infected patients had detectable CagA IgG antibodies. Fifty-seven patients received OAC and 47 received RAC. OAC eradicated H. pylori in 91 and 86% of patients by per protocol (PP) and intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis, respectively. PP and ITT eradication rates for RAC were 96 and 91%. Ulcer healing at the follow-up EGD was 89% with OAC and 100% with RAC. Side-effects were minor. No patient failed to complete the protocol due to side-effects. CONCLUSION: Triple therapy with either omeprazole or RBC is highly effective in eradicating H. pylori and healing duodenal ulcer in Vietnamese patients.