Eradication of Helicobacter pylori in Recurrent Duodenal Ulcer

To the Editor: Hentschel et al. (Feb. 4 issue) 1 discuss the effect of ranitidine and amoxicillin plus metronidazole on the eradication of Helicobacter pylori and the recurrence of duodenal ulcer. They conclude that the combination of amoxicillin and metronidazole is very effective in eradicating H. pylori and that this benefit is not related to any direct action of the two antimicrobial agents on the gastroduodenal mucosa. The authors do not comment on the possible role of ranitidine in the success of this treatment. Did the ranitidine accelerate ulcer healing, or as proposed for omeprazole, 2 did it improve the antibacterial activity . . .