Background: The present study was conducted to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of a 7-day treatment with pantoprazole, amoxicillin and metronidazole for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection.
Patients and methods: Fifty patients (26 male, 24 female, age 18 to 86, mean 54 years) with an active duodenal (n = 25) or gastric ulcer (n = 25) were recruited into the study, 48 patients being H. pylori positive at the study start. Patients were treated with pantoprazole (40 mg bid), amoxicillin (1 g bid) and metronidazole (500 mg bid) for 7 days and for another 21 days with pantoprazole (40 mg/od). Four weeks after the end of study medications the patients were re-examined endoscopically and their H. pylori status was re-assessed using urease test, histology and 13C-urea-breath test.
Results: In 39 of 48 intention to treat patients, H. pylori infection was cured, according to 81% (95%-CI = 67 to 91%). In the per protocol population in 35 of 41 patients H. pylori was eradicated, which results in an eradication rate of 85% (95%-CI = 71 to 94%). Ulcer healing was endoscopically confirmed in 45 of 48 patients (94%; 95%-CI = 83 to 99%) after 8 weeks. Six of 50 patients (12%) reported mild to moderate probable side-effects of the study medication. Cure of the infection was associated with a distinct reduction of the gastritis grade and activity.
Conclusion: A 7-day triple therapy using pantoprazole, amoxicillin and metronidazole is an effective and cost-effective alternative to regimens including clarithromycin for the treatment of H. pylori infection.