To compare the efficacy of triple therapy with furazolidone, amoxicillin and omeprazole for two weeks and three weeks in the eradication of Helicobacter pylori in Bangladeshi duodenal ulcer patients.

Helicobacter pylori eradication is the mainstay in the treatment of Helicobacter pylori associated peptic ulcer disease. Furazolidone was tried in several developing countries and showed good results in some trials. Increasing the duration of treatment has been shown to improve the eradication rate. This study was done to compare the efficacy of triple therapy for two weeks (Group-A) and three weeks (Group-B) consisting of omeprazole 20 mg b.d. amoxicillin 1 gm b.d. and furazolidone 200 mg b.d. in the eradication of Helicobacter pylori in duodenal ulcer patient. A total of 70 duodenal ulcer patients with Helicobacter pylori infection were included in the study. Healing of duodenal ulcer was assessed three months after the end of treatment and at the same time Helicobacter pylori eradication assessed by Campylobacter Like Organism (CLO) test and histology. In group-A, duodenal ulcer was healed in 17 (58.62%) patients and Helicobacter pylori was eradicated in 15 (52%) patients. In group-B, duodenal ulcer was healed in 19 (61.30%) patients and Helicobacter pylori was eradicated in 18 (58%) patients. Healing of duodenal ulcer was not significantly different between two groups. Eradication of Helicobacter pylori was also not significantly different between two groups.