aim: if NAC is applied as an adjunct to standard therapy in H. pylori eradication, it may have an additive influence.
design: clinical trial
methods and materials: In this study, all patients with dyspepsia and with positive rapid urease test (RUT) will be enrolled. Patients randomized in one of two treatment groups: The experimental group was given amoxicillin (capsules, 1000 mg) bid (with breakfast and dinner), clarithromycin (capsules, 500 mg) bid (with breakfast and dinner), and omeprazole (capsules, 20 mg) bid (before breakfast and dinner), plus NAC 600 mg bid. The control group was given amoxicillin/clarithromycin/omeprazole the same as experimental group, plus placebo. In patients without peptic ulcer, omeprazole 20 mg once daily was continued for 2 weeks. But patients with peptic ulcer were treated for 4–6 additional weeks.
Exclusion criteria: age<18 and >70, recent use of antibiotics, bismuth salts, or proton pump inhibitors (PPI), chronic use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or corticosteroids, gastric outlet obstruction, pregnancy, renal failure, gastric malignancy, and prior gastric surgery