A comparison of lansoprazole and ranitidine in the treatment of erosive oesophagitis. Multicentre Investigational Group.
BACKGROUND
Lansoprazole is a new proton pump inhibitor which produces prolonged decrease of gastric acidity. The aim of this study was to compare lansoprazole to a standard dose of ranitidine in the treatment of patients with reflux oesophagitis.


METHODS
Two hundred and forty-seven patients with erosive oesophagitis were randomly assigned to 8 weeks of treatment with either 30 mg lansoprazole once daily or 150 mg ranitidine twice daily.


RESULTS
Two hundred and forty-two patients were included in the analysis. Lansoprazole (30 mg) daily, healed oesophagitis in 92.1% of patients after 8 weeks of treatment. This was significantly superior to 150 mg ranitidine b.d.s. which healed oesophagitis in 69.9% of patients (P < 0.001). Relief of reflux symptoms was superior with lansoprazole to that with ranitidine. Both lansoprazole and ranitidine were well tolerated with no serious drug-related adverse events noted.


CONCLUSIONS
Lansoprazole, 30 mg once daily, is highly effective and safe in the short-term treatment of erosive oesophagitis.
Robinson
M
M
Oklahoma Foundation for Digestive Research, University of Oklahoma Health Center, Oklahoma City 73104, USA.
Sahba
B
B
Avner
D
D
Jhala
N
N
Greski-Rose
P A
PA
Jennings
D E
DE
D053799:2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002110:Caffeine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004942:Esophagitis, Peptic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005773:Gastroscopy; D006801:Humans; D064747:Lansoprazole; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors; D011899:Ranitidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012907:Smoking
D053799:2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors; D064747:Lansoprazole; D002110:Caffeine; D011899:Ranitidine; D009853:Omeprazole