[Five-day rabeprazole-based triple therapy for helicobacter pylori infection].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of a 5-day rabeprazole-based triple therapy regimen for helicobacter pylori infection, and to improve the eradication rates of antibiotic-resistant Helicobacter pylori with rabeprazole plus clarithromycin and furazolidone. METHODS: We selected 95 H. pylori-positive patients with gastric or duodenal ulcers or erosive gastritis and randomized them into 2 groups. The patients were given a 7-day triple standard therapy and 5-day triple standard therapy, consisting of rabeprazole 10 mg twice daily, clarithromycin 500 mg twice daily and furazolidone 100 mg twice daily. H. pylori status was checked by rapid urease test or 14C urea breath test and histology before and 4 weeks after the therapy. RESULTS: The eradication rate of H. pylori for patients under the 5-day treatment vs. 7-day treatment were 77.8% vs. 82% by per protocol and 94.4% vs. 97.6% by intention to treat analysis (no significant comparisons). The ulcer and erosion healing rate was 97.6% vs. 97.8% (no significant comparisons). No major side-effects were reported. CONCLUSION: The 5-day rabeprazole-based triple therapy( combined with clarithromycin and furazolidone) for helicobacter pylori infection is an effective regimen with excellent patient acceptability and compliance.