title: Esomeprazole 40 mg administered intravenously has similar safety and efficacy profiles to the oral formulation in patients with erosive esophagitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  An intravenous formulation of esomeprazole has been developed for use in patients where oral administration is not appropriate. This study evaluated safety after 1 and 4 weeks, and efficacy after 4 weeks' esomeprazole 40 mg once daily treatment, administered via an intravenous injection, intravenous infusion or orally, in patients with erosive esophagitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this double-blind, multi-centre study, patients with endoscopically confirmed erosive esophagitis (Los Angeles grade A-D) were randomized to receive 1 week's treatment of esomeprazole 40 mg once daily, via a 3-min injection, a 30-min infusion or orally, followed by 3 weeks of open treatment with oral esomeprazole 40 mg once daily. Safety variables were evaluated following 1 and 4 weeks' esomeprazole treatment. Healing rates at 4 weeks were estimated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intravenous and oral esomeprazole were equally well tolerated during the first week, and after 4 weeks' treatment. The 3 treatment groups showed similar levels of healing following 4 weeks' treatment with esomeprazole (injection + oral: 79.7%; infusion + oral: 80.2%; oral alone: 82.6%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Esomeprazole 40 mg administered via an intravenous injection, intravenous infusion or orally administered for 1 week, followed by 3 weeks of oral dosing, is well tolerated and provides effective healing of erosive esophagitis.
authors.affiliation: Milpark Hospital, Guild Road, Parktown West, Johannesburg, South Africa. gidoc@global.co.za
authors.forename: Herbert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Christoffel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Van Rensburg
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Nazimuddin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aboo
authors.forename: Heli
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Makela
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nauclér
authors.forename: Bengt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hallerback
authors.forename: Lars-Erik
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Svedberg
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D064098:Esomeprazole / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004941:Esophagitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D064098:Esomeprazole