Objective: To determine the effectiveness of modified Sanhuang Xiexin Tang (SHXXT) plus additional herbs (MSAH) combined with ""standard triple therapy"" for eradication of Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) and amelioration of related symptoms in comparison with standard triple and standard quadruple therapies.
Methods: From October 2015 to May 2016, we recruited patients with dyspepsia symptoms confirmed to have H.pylori infection by the 13C urea breath test in our outpatient clinic. Patients were randomly divided into three treatment groups: Nexium? standard triple therapy (group A; EAC); Nexium® standard quadruple therapy (group B; EBAC); or Nexium? standard triple therapy combined with MSAH (group C; EAC+MSAH). Comparisons of Hpylori eradication and symptom amelioration rates were made among the three groups at 2 or 6 weeks after group assignment.
Results: There was no difference in H. pylori eradication rates between groups B (EBAC) and C (EAC+MSAH) (P = 0.486), and eradication rates in groups B and C were significantly higher than that in group A (EAC) (P A vs B = 0.001; P A vs C = 0.003). There was no difference in the total symptom score among the groups before treatment. In all groups, the total symptom scores after treatment (2 or 6 weeks after group assignment) were significantly lower than those before treatment (P<65308; 0.001 for all). However, group C (EAC + MSAH) demonstrated superior total symptom scores and symptom amelioration rates than groups A (EAC) and B (EBAC). Group B also demonstrated better scores and rates than group A. There was no difference in symptom amelioration rates at 2 and 6 weeks within each group.
Conclusion: There is no difference between MSAH combined with standard triple therapy and standard quadruple therapy containing bismuth with regard to H.pylori eradication rate. However, MSAH combined with standard triple therapy has a higher symptom amelioration rate and therefore appears to be an ideal treatment scheme for H.pylori eradication.
Keywords: Disease eradication; Helicobacter pylori; Sanhuang Xiexin Tang; Symptom assessment.