A single standard nocturnal dose of nizatidine enhances the healing of active duodenal ulcers among Chinese

A multi-center clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravenous nizatidine in the management of peptic ulcer bleeding

AIM: To evaluate the safety and safety of intravenous nizatidine in the management of peptic ulcer bleeding.

METHODS: A muti-center, randomized, parallel-controlled clinical trial was conducted in 205 patients with endoscopically proved peptic ulcer bleeding. The patients were randomly divided into nizatidine group (n = 102) and control group (n = 103). Patients in the nizatidine group were intravenously given nizatidine 0.1 g three times daily for 5 days, while those in the control group were intravenously given famotidine 20 mg twice daily for 5 days.

RESULTS: There were 201 cases evaluable for efficacy and safety. The effective rate and response rate were comparable between the nizatidine group and the control group (85.0% vs 82.2%; 99.0% vs 98.0%; both P > 0.05). Major adverse events include leucopenia, slightly elevated transaminase and anaemia.

CONCLUSION: Intravenous nizatidine is a safe and effective drug for treatment of peptic ulcer bleeding.

Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in duodenal ulcer and gastro-duodenal ulcer diseases in Taiwan

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori-negative duodenal ulcer (DU) is increasing in Western countries but is rare in Japan. We aimed to examine the prevalence of H. pylori infection and the characteristics in DU and gastro-duodenal ulcer (GDU) diseases in Taiwan.

STUDY

All patients with an endoscopic diagnosis of DU or GDU from September 2003 to May 2004 at Taipei Veterans General Hospital were included. Rapid urease test was done for all patients, while urea breath test was carried out on those with negative rapid urease tests. A patient was considered infected if either test was positive.

RESULTS

The prevalence of H. pylori was 88.7% (555/626) in DU and 90.5% (95/105) in GDU patients. There was no difference in sex and prevalence of H. pylori between the two groups but age was higher in the GDU patients (60.1 +/- 15.5 vs. 55.4 +/- 15.5, P = 0.005). Of H. pylori-negative DU patients, 28.2% (20/71) reported using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)/aspirin, which were used by all 10 H. pylori-negative GDU patients (100%) (P < 0.001). There was no difference in sex and age between H. pylori-positive and negative DU patients. The prevalence rate of H. pylori in DU was not statistically different among outpatients, inpatients, and physical check-up subjects (86.8% vs. 93.3% vs. 90.7%, P = 0.163).

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of H. pylori infection in DU appears to be decreasing in Taiwan. Thus, eradication therapy without confirming the presence of H. pylori in DU patients cannot be recommended. NSAIDs/aspirin is the major risk factor for H. pylori-negative DU patients, especially those with co-morbid gastric ulcer.