Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing standard clinical doses of omeprazole and lansoprazole in erosive oesophagitis.
BACKGROUND
Omeprazole and lansoprazole are used to treat erosive oesophagitis in the respective daily doses of 20 and 30 mg.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate, by meta-analysis, whether treatment with lansoprazole 30 mg increases erosive oesophagitis healing rates over omeprazole 20 mg.


METHODS
We searched for randomized, double-blind trials comparing omeprazole 20 mg and lansoprazole 30 mg in endoscopically diagnosed erosive oesophagitis. After assessing for homogeneity, non-heterogeneous trials were combined and pooled healing rates derived. We calculated the relative benefit increase, absolute benefit increase and number needed to treat.


RESULTS
Six trials without significant heterogeneity met predetermined inclusion criteria. By per protocol analysis, pooled healing rates for omeprazole 20 mg and lansoprazole 30 mg were, respectively, 74.7% and 77.7% after 4 weeks and 87.0% and 88.7% after 8 weeks. The corresponding figures by intention-to-treat analysis were 70.8% and 72.7% after 4 weeks and 81.8% and 83.3% after 8 weeks. In each analysis the absolute benefit increase for lansoprazole was small and its 95% confidence interval encompassed zero.


CONCLUSIONS
Lansoprazole 30 mg produces healing rates in erosive oesophagitis that are not statistically significantly different to those of omeprazole 20 mg.
Sharma
V K
VK
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
Leontiadis
G I
GI
Howden
C W
CW
D053799:2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004941:Esophagitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D064747:Lansoprazole; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D053799:2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D064747:Lansoprazole; D009853:Omeprazole