Misoprostol for the treatment of chronic erosive gastritis: a double-blind placebo-controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy of misoprostol for the treatment of chronic erosive gastritis and associated symptoms.


METHODS
We performed a double-blind controlled trial, administering 200-micrograms misoprostol tablets or placebo twice daily for 2 months to 48 patients with symptomatic chronic erosive gastritis. Symptomatology was assessed by means of a standard questionnaire at the beginning and at the end of the study, as well as endoscopic and histologic changes of the gastric mucosa.


RESULTS
At the end of the treatment period, a significant reduction in symptom score was observed in misoprostol-treated (from 86.6 +/- 66.2 to 17.6 +/- 18.2, p < 0.001) but not in placebo-treated patients. Endoscopic score was significantly reduced at the end of the treatment period in the misoprostol group, compared with that of the placebo group (p < 0.05). A significant reduction in the activity of histologic gastritis was observed only in patients on misoprostol. The prevalence of gastric colonization by Helicobacter pylori was rather low (30%), and no effect of treatment was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with symptomatic chronic erosive gastritis seem to profit from treatment with misoprostol: the treatment with misoprostol, but not with placebo, was effective in significantly reducing the extent of symptoms. Such an improvement was associated with a substantial improvement in the endoscopic and histologic appearance of the gastric mucosa.
Department of Gastroenterology, S. Anna Hospital, Ferrara, Italy.
P
P
Pazzi
S
S
Gamberini
R
R
Scagliarini
M
M
Dalla Libera
A
A
Merighi
S
S
Gullini
D002908:Chronic Disease; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D005756:Gastritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D005773:Gastroscopy; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D016595:Misoprostol