title: 40 mg pantoprazole and 40 mg esomeprazole are equivalent in the healing of esophageal lesions and relief from gastroesophageal reflux disease-related symptoms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Proton pump inhibitors are regarded as the most effective class of acid suppressive medication for gastroesophageal reflux disease treatment. There is considerable interest regarding the dose equivalence between various proton pump inhibitors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacy of pantoprazole and esomeprazole with regard to healing and relief from gastroesophageal reflux disease-related symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multicenter, randomized, double-blind study. Patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease grades B/C (Los Angeles classification) received 40 mg pantoprazole daily (n = 113) or 40 mg esomeprazole daily (n = 114). Healing (endoscopy) and relief from gastroesophageal reflux disease-related symptoms (direct questioning) were assessed at first and final visit (after 4, 6, 8, or 10 weeks of treatment).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall healing in both treatment groups was 88% of patients (intention-to-treat population), 95% (pantoprazole), and 90% (esomeprazole) (per-protocol population); statistically, this indicates "at least equivalence" between treatments. Overall relief from gastroesophageal reflux disease-related symptoms was similar for pantoprazole (55%) and esomeprazole (51%, per-protoco). No correlation between healing and symptom relief was seen. The majority of reported adverse events were assessed as "not related" to the study drug. Pantoprazole and esomeprazole have comparably good safety and tolerability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease, 40 mg pantoprazole daily and 40 mg esomeprazole daily are equally effective for healing of esophageal lesions and relieving gastroesophageal reflux disease-related symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsklinik Marienhospital Herne, Germany. Anton.Gillessen@ruhr-uni-bochum.de
authors.forename: Anton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gillessen
authors.forename: Winfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Beil
authors.forename: Irvin M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Modlin
authors.forename: Gudrun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gatz
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hole
mesh_terms: D053799:2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles; D000328:Adult; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D020776:Endoscopes, Gastrointestinal; D064098:Esomeprazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000077402:Pantoprazole; D013454:Sulfoxides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D041742:Upper Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D053799:2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D013454:Sulfoxides; D000077402:Pantoprazole; D064098:Esomeprazole