ERADICATION OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI WITH LANSOPRAZOLE AND CLARITHROMYCIN IN GASTRIC-ULCER PATIENTS

This study attempted to determine the efficacy of lansoprazole plus clarithromycin therapy in the eradication of Helicobacter pylori in gastric ulcer patients. The influence of H. pylori eradication on healing and relapse of ulcers was also studied. Thirty-nine patients received either lansoprazole 30 mg daily for 8 weeks (group 1) or clarithromycin 200 mg twice daily for 2 weeks and lansoprazole 30 mg daily for 8 weeks (group 2). Before treatment, H. pylori status was evaluated by a rapid urease test and histologic examination. H. pylori clearance and eradication were evaluated by a rapid urease test, polymerase chain reaction, and a [C-13]urea breath test. Clearance of H. pylori was 0% in group 1 and was 33% in group 2, Eradication of H. pylori was 0% in group 1 and 21% in group 2. Although all five ulcers were healed in patients with H. pylori eradication, ulcers were not healed in the five patients without eradication. Relapse of ulcer was observed in three patients in whom eradication had failed. In this study, for H. pylori-positive gastric ulcer patients, better results were obtained when lansoprazole plus clarithromycin therapy was used, and H. pylori eradication was achieved.