A comparison between enprostil and ranitidine in the management of gastric ulceration.
In a randomly allocated, double-blind, endoscopically controlled study, 98 patients with gastric ulcers were treated with either (a synthetic prostaglandin of E2-like structure) enprostil 70 micrograms b.d. or 150 mg ranitidine b.d. The healing rates at 4, 8 and 12 weeks were enprostil 57, 91 and 94% and for ranitidine 55, 88 and 98%, respectively. Following ulcer healing, half the patients were followed for 1 year without treatment and the others were given 70 micrograms enprostil nocte. Endoscopy was repeated in both groups after 6 and 12 months or if dyspeptic symptoms returned. The recurrence rate without maintenance at 6 and 12 months, following ranitidine therapy, was 67 and 75%, and after enprostil therapy 50 and 61%, respectively. On maintenance enprostil, the recurrence rates were 28 and 40%. Forty-seven per cent of patients who completed maintenance treatment had a proven ulcer recurrence within 6 months of stopping therapy. Diarrhoea was a common side-effect of enprostil therapy. Seven patients were withdrawn because of diarrhoea or abdominal pain.
Morgan
A G
AG
Endoscopy Unit, Airedale General Hospital, Steeton Keighley, West Yorkshire, UK.
Pacsoo
C
C
Taylor
P
P
McAdam
W A
WA
D004311:Double-Blind Method; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D016620:Enprostil / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011899:Ranitidine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
D011899:Ranitidine; D016620:Enprostil