Efficacy of one-day quadruple therapy for H pylori infection in Chinese patients

AIM: To compare the efficacies of one-day quadruple therapy and seven-day triple therapy in Chinese patients. METHODS: Sixty consecutive patients with nonulcer dyspepsia and confirmed H pylori infection were randomized to receive either omeprazole 40 mg, amoxycillin 1 g, and furazolidone 100 mg, all twice a day for 7 d or omeprazole 20 mg (at breakfast and dinner), amoxicillin 1 g, furazolidone 200 mg, and colloidal bismuth subcitrate 220 mg four times for only one day. H pylori status was determined before and at least 5 weeks after therapy by endoscopy with antral and corpus biopsies for rapid urease test and histology. RESULTS: H pylori eradication was successful in 66.67% (20/30) patients in the 7-d group and in 36.67% (11/30) patients in the 1-day group (P - 0.037). Side effects were induced by the treatment in 13.3% (4/30) patients of each group, but these were all self-limiting, short-lasting, and did not require any specific treatment. CONCLUSION: The one-day quadruple therapy is less effective than the one-week regimen in curing H pylori infection in Chinese patients.