A new treatment protocol for Helicobacter pylori infection: Preliminary results of a prospective, multicentric and randomized study

The study compared the efficacy of a novel 10-day treatment regimen with that of the standard 7-day regimen for H. pylori eradication. Patients were randomized to either a 10-day therapy comprising rabeprazole 20 mg bid plus amoxycillin 1 g bid for 5 days followed by rabeprazole 20 mg bid, claritromycin 500 mg bid and tinidazole 500 mg bid for the remaining 5 days, or standard 7-day regimen comprising rabeprazole 20 mg bid, claritromycin 500 mg bid and amoxycillin 1 g bid. H. pylori infection before and 4-6 weeks after treatment was assessed by rapid urease test histology, and UBT. H. pylori eradication was achieved in 208/220 (94.5%) patients treated with the 1.0-day regimen and in 159/215 (73.9%) patients with the 7-day schedule (p < 0.001). The use of this 10-day therapy could be suggested as first-line therapy.