title: A comparison of gastro-oesophageal reflux in volunteers assessed by ambulatory pH and gamma monitoring after treatment with either Liquid Gaviscon or Algicon Suspension.
abstract: This study was designed to compare the effectiveness of single doses of either Liquid Gaviscon or Algicon Suspension in the suppression of food and acid reflux into the oesophagus after a test meal in volunteers. After the pH electrode and gamma detector were positioned 5 cm above the cardia, the volunteers received a refluxogenic radiolabelled meal. The subjects then remained untreated, or thirty minutes later they were given a dose of unlabelled Algicon Suspension, or Liquid Gaviscon and a recording was made for a minimum of 3 hours. Allocation to the treatment group was randomized with the cross-overs performed 1 week apart. Liquid Gaviscon suppressed gastro-oesophageal reflux of both food and acid whereas only an insignificant reduction in reflux was seen after Algicon Suspension. The oesophageal pH remained below 4 for 3.21 +/- 0.92% (S.E.M.) of the recording period in the control study, 0.88 +/- 0.33 after Gaviscon and 2.91 +/- 0.68 after Algicon. The reflux of food was reduced from 17,070 x 10(3) +/- 4713 x 10(3) counts in the control study to 224 x 10(3) +/- 93 x 10(3) counts after the Gaviscon and 16,080 x 10(3) +/- 7131 x 10(3) counts after Algicon. The suppression of reflux by Liquid Gaviscon was significantly better than that produced by Algicon Suspension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical School, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Washington
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Greaves
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Iftikhar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000464:Alginates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000536:Aluminum Hydroxide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods; D000863:Antacids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001639:Bicarbonates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002138:Calibration; D002254:Carbonates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D004947:Esophagus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D015902:Gamma Cameras; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012824:Silicic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate; D013667:Technetium
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D000863:Antacids; D001639:Bicarbonates; D002254:Carbonates; D004338:Drug Combinations; C060497:Algicon; D012824:Silicic Acid; D000536:Aluminum Hydroxide; C007829:alginate, aluminium hydroxide, magnesium trisilicate, sodium bicarbonate drug combination; D013667:Technetium; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate