Patients with functional dyspepsia responding to omeprazole have a characteristic gastro-oesophageal reflux pattern.
BACKGROUND
The effect of acid secretion inhibitors in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) is equivocal. One previous trial showed an effect in patients with a characteristic gastro-oesophageal reflux pattern. This double-blind trial compares the number of reflux episodes in responders and non-responders to omeprazole.


METHODS
Twenty-four patients (men/women, 11:13; mean age, 49 years) with FD were included; those with reflux as the main symptom were excluded. An upper endoscopy and a 24-h oesophageal pH measurement were performed before randomization to treatment with 10-20 mg omeprazole or placebo for 4 weeks. Patients who at questioning considered themselves to have achieved sufficient relief of dyspeptic symptoms after 4 weeks were characterized as responders.


RESULTS
The number of responders in the omeprazole and placebo groups was 8 of 14 (57%) and 2 of 10 (20%), respectively (P = 0.07). The mean number of reflux episodes at the 24-h oesophageal pH measurement in responders and non-responders to omeprazole was 57 and 25, respectively (P < 0.003). In the omeprazole group the number of responders was 0 of 5 (0%) in those with < 32 reflux episodes and 8 of 9 (89%) in those with > 32 reflux episodes (P < 0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with FD responding to omeprazole were characterized by many reflux episodes.
Farup
P G
PG
Dept. of Medicine, Gjøvik County Hospital, Norway.
Hovde
O
O
Torp
R
R
Wetterhus
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000150:complications*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011187:Posture; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D009853:Omeprazole