Is the omeprazole and amoxicillin combination useful in the treatment eradicating Helicobacter pylori in Spain

AIM: To evaluate the efficiency of omeprazole (20 mg/12 h) plus amoxycillin (1 gr/12 h) in eradicating Helicobacter pylori in duodenal ulcer patients studied in four hospitals in our country. METHODS: One-hundred and four patients (mean age: 49 +/- 16 years, 67% males) attended at four general hospitals in Spain, who had a duodenal ulcer demonstrated by endoscopy. These patients were infected with H. pylori demonstrated by urease test and histologic methods, and in 32 by a breath test and 18 by culture. Omeprazole 20 mg b.i.d. plus amoxycillin 1 gr b.i.d. was administered for 2 weeks. Endoscopy was repeated 1 month after completing therapy, and the aforementioned diagnostic methods were performed again. RESULTS: Eradication was achieved in 29% of cases (n = 30). In multiple logistic regression analysis, duration of ulcer disease was the only variable which correlated with success in H. pylori eradication (chi(2) = 7.2; p = 0.02). Additional variables (age, sex, smoking, pre-treatment with omeprazole, AINEs or H2 antagonist, ulcer size, and antral histologic gastritis) were not correlated with H. pylori eradication. Ulcer healing was demonstrated in 80% of patients (n = 83), and the healing rate was higher when eradication was achieved (97%) than in H. pylori-positive patients (73%) (p < 0.01). Compliance was good in all cases. No adverse effects were observed. CONCLUSION: [corrected] Disappointing results were obtained with omeprazole (20 mg b.i.d.) plus amoxycillin (1 gr b.i.d.) on H. pylori eradication. This combination cannot be recommended in our country at the doses employed in this study.