The aim of this study is to assess the relationship between Helicobacter pylori and the relapse of
duodenal ulcer, and also to evaluate the differences in efficacy and side effects between 1 week and 2 week triple
therapy. Sixty-two patients with active
duodenal ulcer, which healed within 8 weeks of
nizatidine treatment, were randomly allocated to one of two groups. Group 1 (n = 29) received no drugs, Group II (n = 33) received triple
therapy for 1 week (IIa, n = 16) or 2 weeks (IIb, n = 17). Eleven patients whose
ulcer did not heal after an 8 week
nizatidine treatment period were randomly assigned into Group IIa (n = 5) and IIb (n = 6). Seven patients whose
ulcer recurred after discontinuation of
nizatidine were allocated to receive 2 weeks of triple
therapy. All patients received endoscopy 6 weeks after entry, and again at 3, 6 and 12 months unless both
ulcer recurrence and H. pylori
infection were found. The frequency of
ulcer relapse 6 weeks after the active
duodenal ulcer had healed was 83% (24/29 in Group I, 13% in Group 11a and 14% in Group IIb. The cumulative rate of recurrence was significantly higher in Group I than in Group II (90 vs 30% at 12 months, P < 0.01).
Ulcer relapse was associated with persistence of H. pylori
infection (P < 0.0001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)