[Azithromycin versus amoxicillin in triple therapy for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection].

BACKGROUND: To establish if azithromycin, in association with omeprazole and metronidazole, is effective to eradicate Helicobacter pylori, compared to amoxicillin in triple therapy. METHODS: Two hundred consecutive patients with duodenal ulcer and Helicobacter pylori infection were enrolled in the study: group a) 100 patients (69 males, 31 females; mean age 47.61 years; range 23-75); group b) 100 patients (70 males, 30 females; mean age 45.56 years; range 22-72). Group a) omeprazole 20 mg od, azithromycin 500 mg od the first three and the last three days of association with metronidazole, this one 250 mg qid, for ten days; group b) omeprazole 20 mg od, amoxicillin 1 g bid, metronidazole 250 mg qid for ten days. Omeprazole was continued for other four weeks in each treatment with the same dosage. RESULTS: In group a ulcer healing was observed in 89 patients (89 %), while in group b in 93 patients (93%) (p=n.s.). Helicobacter pylori infection was eradicated in group a in 70 patients (70 %), while in group b in 78 patients (78 %) (p=n.s.). Side effects in 11 patients (5.5 %), in particular: group a 5 (5 %), group b 6 (6 %) (p=n.s.). CONCLUSIONS: Azithromycin could be proposed for treatment of Helicobacter pylori eradication.