Ranitidine bismuth citrate in the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection.

OBJECTIVE Examine the effectiveness of treatments that include ranitidine bismuth citrate (RBC) for Helicobacter pylori infection. DESIGN Prospective and randomised study. PATIENTS AND METHOD 137 patients were included (62 women, 75 males, average age 46.9 +/- 13) diagnosed with peptic ulcer and infection by Helicobacter pylori. None had received treatment previously. 67 patients were treated with RBC 400 mg bd and clarithromycin 500 mg bd for 14 days, and 70 patients with RBC 400 mg bd, clarithromycin 500 mg bd and amoxycillin 1 g bd for 7 days. The infection eradication was proven eight weeks after treatment end. The efficacy of treatment was evaluated using the intention-to-treat method. The Chisquare test (chi 2) was used for the statistical analysis of data. RESULTS Infection in 48 out of 67 patients (71.64%) treated with RBC-clarithromycin for 14 days was eradicated, versus 88.57% (62 out of 70) among those treated with RBC-clarithromycin-amoxycillin for 7 days, with a significant difference between both regimens (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS 7-day treatment with RBC-clarithromycin-amoxycillin has a good eradication rate (88.57%) and represents a valid alternative to regimens including a PPI and two antibiotics, as both regimens have a similar efficacy. Results obtained with the double therapy of RBC-clarithromycin for 14 days were not satisfactory, the rate of eradication being 71.64%. The use of an RBC treatment for Helicobacter pylori infection should always be accompanied by two antibiotics in a triple therapy.