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Seven-day is more effective than 4-day ranitidine bismuth citrate-based triple therapy in eradication of Helicobacter pylori in children: a prospective randomized study.

Tam YH, Yeung CK, Lee KH

Division of Paediatric Surgery and Paediatric Urology, Department of Surgery, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong, China. pyhtam@hotmail.com

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori infection is common in paediatric population. To date, there is still no universally accepted recommendation on the treatment of this infection in children. Ranitidine bismuth citrate-based triple therapy has been shown to be effective in H. pylori eradication in adults but its use has rarely been validated in children. AIM: To investigate the efficacy of ranitidine bismuth citrate-based triple therapy in eradication of H. pylori in children and to determine the shortest duration of treatment required. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective randomized study comparing ranitidine bismuth citrate plus amoxicillin plus clarithromycin given for 4 days vs. 7 days in H. pylori-infected children diagnosed by (13)C-urea breath test. Eradication was evaluated by repeat (13)C-urea breath test at 6 weeks after treatment. RESULTS: A total of 206 children were recruited (median age 12 years, 97 boys and 109 girls). Ninety-eight (47.6%) and 108 (52.4%) children were randomized to receive 7-day and 4-day regimen respectively. The eradication rate of 4-day treatment arm was 77.8% (both intention-to-treat and per protocol) compared with 88.8% (intention-to-treat, P = 0.036) and 89.7% (per protocol, P = 0.022) of 7-day regimen. There was no statistical difference in terms of side effects between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Seven-day ranitidine bismuth citrate-based triple therapy is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for eradication of H. pylori in children.

Published 28 June 2006 in Aliment Pharmacol Ther, 24(1): 81-6.
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