Maintenance treatment with ranitidine compared with fundoplication in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.
The study comprises 31 patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease who received 8 weeks' treatment with ranitidine. Sixteen of the patients received in addition maintenance treatment with ranitidine (150 mg twice daily) for another 6 months, and fundoplication was performed on 15 patients. There was a significant improvement in endoscopic and histologic findings, a decrease in gastric acid secretion, and a reduction of symptoms during short-term treatment with ranitidine. No further improvement was seen in any of the factors after half a year of ranitidine. After surgery the total reflux time during 24 h decreased to practically zero, all patients had normal endoscopic findings and negative acid perfusion tests, and reflux symptoms had disappeared completely. Anti-reflux surgery was superior to treatment with ranitidine. Reflux oesophagitis is therefore not improved any further by a half year's treatment with ranitidine beyond what is achieved with short-term therapy.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004941:Esophagitis / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005744:Gastric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D005773:Gastroscopy; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010477:Perfusion; D011899:Ranitidine / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D011899:Ranitidine