[DUODENAL PEPTIC ULCER TREATMENT BY H. PYLORI ERADICATION: CONTROLED RANDOMIZED STUDY] / Tratamiento de la Ulcera Péptica Duodenal mediante erradicación del H. pylori: Estudio controlado randomizado.

As Helicobacter pylori infection represents a very important causal factor in the development of duodenal peptic ulcer, several therapeutic trials have been developed in order to obtain an efficient eradication of the microorganism. The aim of our study has been to evaluate, in patients with duodenal peptic ulcer, the effect of double antibiotic short therapy associated to famotidine on the eradication of Helicobacter pylori, cicatrization of ulcerous lesion and the histological changes after the treatment. Forty patients with duodenal ulcer and Helicobacter pylori infection were distributed al random in two groups (I and II). Group I received tetracycline 2 gr per day plus furazolidone 400 mg per day for a week, and famotidine 40 mg per day for four weeks. Group II received just famotidine 40 mg per day for six weeks. Al the initial endoscopy, four biopsies were taken from the gastric antrurn for histological study and determination of Helicobacter pylori. The endoscopy was repeated between 6 and 8 weeks after the beginning of the antibiotic treatment, when four biopsies were taken again from the gastric antrum with the same purpose, and the results were compared. Twenty-eight patients completed the study, 14 in group I and 14 in group II. Helicobacter pylori eradication was obtained in 85,7% of patients in group I and 0% in group II (p=0.00002). Ulcer cicatrization was obtained in 100% of patients of group I compared to 85,7% of patients of group II (p=0.48). The histological degree of gastritis significantly diminished after the treatment in patients of Group I, in relation to the histological parameters of severity (p=0,002), activity (p=0,00002) and presence of lymphoid follicles (p=0.02). These changes were not significantly observed in group II. Two patients of group I had mild sideeffects (14,3%), and none of them was observed in group II (p=0.48). We concluded that the treatment used (tetracycline + furazolidone) was highly efficacious in the eradication of Helicobacter pylori, as well as in the cicatrization, reduction of antral gastric mucous inflammation, and a low rate of side-effects.