Prognostic factors for relapse of reflux oesophagitis and symptoms during 12 months of therapy with lansoprazole.
BACKGROUND
Symptom relief and endoscopic healing are both important treatment goals in patients with reflux oesophagitis. Knowledge of predictive factors for treatment success could facilitate choice of treatment in individual patients.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the value of clinical data and data from baseline ancillary investigations in predicting the outcome of maintenance therapy with a proton pump inhibitor.


METHODS
After healing and symptom relief had been obtained on open therapy with lansoprazole 30 mg daily, 103 patients with reflux oesophagitis grade 1 or 2 were randomized to maintenance therapy with lansoprazole 15 or 30 mg daily, and time until recurrence of symptoms and/or endoscopic changes was recorded. The predictive value of the following variables was assessed by Cox regression analysis: dose of lansoprazole, symptom severity, grade of reflux oesophagitis. Helicobacter pylori infection status, lower oesophageal sphincter resting tone, percentage of 24 h with an oesophageal pH of <4.0, and median 24 h intragastric pH before start of treatment.


RESULTS
Dose of lansoprazole (P = 0.01) and symptom severity (P < 0.05) both significantly predicted time to relapse. Grade of reflux oesophagitis had only a borderline predictive value (P = 0.09), while H. pylori infection status and data from manometry and intraoesophageal 24-hour pH-metry did not predict relapse.


CONCLUSIONS
Symptom severity before starting therapy is a significant predictive factor for treatment success during potent antisecretory therapy with lansoprazole, more so than endoscopic grade of reflux oesophagitis. In a group of patients with uncomplicated reflux oesophagitis being considered for maintenance therapy with lansoprazole, ancillary investigations with endoscopy, manometry and 24-hour pH-metry gave very limited prognostic information. H. pylori infected patients relapsed as early as patients who were not infected.
Hatlebakk
J G
JG
Division of Gastroenterology, Medical Department A, Haukeland Hospital, University of Bergen, Norway.
Berstad
A
A
D053799:2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles; D000328:Adult; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004941:Esophagitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D064747:Lansoprazole; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011379:Prognosis; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors; D012008:Recurrence; D012044:Regression Analysis
D053799:2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors; D064747:Lansoprazole; D009853:Omeprazole