Objective To observe the clinical efficacy and possible mechanism of Weikangan（胃康安） combined with quadruple sterilization in the treatment of Helicobacter pylori（Hp）-associated gastritis.Methods A total of 220 patients with Hp-associated gastritis were randomly divided into a Weikangan group and a placebo group

with 110 cases in each group.Both groups were given standard quadruple sterilization:omeprazole enteric tablets20 mg each time

twice a day;ornidazole dispersible tablets 0.5 g each time

twice a day;amoxicillin dispersible tablets 1.0 g each time

twice a day;bismuth potassium citrate particles 1.0 g each time

4 times a day.The above drugs are taken orally for 2 weeks.The Weikangan group was given one dose of Weikangan Chinese herbal medicine daily

and the placebo group was given a placebo once a day.Both groups were treated for 1 month.Traditional Chinese medicine（TCM） symptoms（including stomach distension or pain

nausea and vomiting

diet reduction

eructation and acid regurgitation

dry mouth and bitter mouth） scores

gastric mucosal changes（including congestion

edema

erosion and bleeding point） were compared before treatment and 1 month after drug withdrawal.The symptom relief time

Hp eradication rate was calculated.The serum gastrin-17

pepsinogen I（PGⅠ）

pepsinogenⅡ（PGⅡ） levels were detected.The clinical efficacy was determined.Results In the Weikangan group

30 cases were cured

41 cases markedly effective

34 cases effective

and 5 cases ineffective.The total effective rate was95.45%.In the placebo group

20 cases were cured

32 cases markedly effective

38 cases effective

20 cases ineffective

and the total effective rate was 81.81%.The total effective rate of the treatment group was higher than that of the placebo group（P < 0.05）.After treatment

the TCM symptom scores and serum PGⅠ and PGⅡ levels in the Weikangan group were lower than those in the placebo group

and serum gastrin-17 level was higher than that in the placebo group（P < 0.05）.The time of symptom relief in the Weikangan group was（9.0 ± 3.7） days

and that in the placebo group was（16.1 ± 5.1） days.The symptom relief in the Weikangan group was earlier than that in the placebo group（P < 0.05）.The cases of gastric mucosal hyperemia

edema

erosion and bleeding point improvement in the Weikangan group were significantly greater than those in the placebo group（P < 0.05）.The eradication rates of Hp in the Weikangan group and the placebo group were 64.55% and 47.22%

respectively.The eradication rate of the Weikangan group was significantly higher than that of the placebo group（P < 0.05）.Conclusion Weikangan combined with quadruple bactericidal therapy for Hp-related gastritis is superior to single use of quadruple bactericidal therapy in improving clinical efficacy

relieving symptoms

promoting gastric mucosal repair and improving eradication rate of Hp.Elevated serum gastrin-17 level and lowering serum PGⅠ and PGⅡ levels may be one of its mechanisms.