Aim: To compare the efficacy and safety of triple therapy with omeprazole plus amoxycillin and clarithromycin vs. ranitidine bismuth citrate plus amoxycillin and clarithromycin in the treatment of Helicobacter pylori‐associated duodenal ulcers. Methods: Eighty‐one patients with duodenal ulcers were randomized to the following treatments: 39 cases with amoxycillin 1 g b.d. and clarithromycin 500 mg b.d. for 1 week plus omeprazole 20 mg b.d. for 2 weeks (omeprazole + amoxycillin + clarithromycin (OAC)), and 42 cases to the same regimen of amoxycillin and clarithromycin for 7 days plus ranitidine bismuth citrate 400 mg b.d. for 2 weeks (ranitidine bismuth citrate + amoxycillin + clarithromycin (RbAC)). Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed together with a rapid urease test and histological examination of antral and corpus biopsy samples prior to treatment and 4 weeks after the end of therapy. Results: Thirty‐four patients in the OAC group and 38 in the RbAC group completed the treatment and 4‐week follow‐up. H. pylori was eradicated in 30 of 34 patients (88%) in the OAC group and in 32 of 38 patients (84%) in the RbAC group according to a per‐protocol analysis (P = N.S.). Thirty‐three (97%) patients treated with OAC and 36 (95%) treated with RbAC presented healed duodenal ulcers at 4 weeks (P = N.S.). On an intention‐to‐treat basis there was no difference in H. pylori eradication between the OAC (77%) and RbAC groups (76%); duodenal ulcer healing was achieved in 85 and 86% of patients in the OAC and RbAC groups, re‐ spectively (P = N.S.). Conclusion: The OAC and RbAC triple therapy regimens proved equally effective in both H. pylori eradication and in duodenal ulcer healing.

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