Treatment of Barrett's esophagus with H2 blockers.
The effect of the H2 receptor antagonists, cimetidine and ranitidine, on Barrett's esophagus was assessed in a retrospective study. There was no evidence of regression of Barrett's epithelium in the 22 patients treated for a mean of 13 months with 800-1,600 mg/day cimetidine, or in the 13 patients treated for a mean of 5.7 months with 300 mg/day ranitidine. Eight of 12 esophageal (Barrett's) ulcers healed on cimetidine therapy over a mean period of 8.7 months, and eight of nine esophageal ulcers healed on ranitidine therapy over a mean period of 3.5 months. We conclude that short-term treatment with H2 blockade does not cause regression of Barrett's esophagus, although such treatment can heal esophageal ulcers.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002927:Cimetidine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011899:Ranitidine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014456:Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology
D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists; D002927:Cimetidine; D011899:Ranitidine