Additional bedtime H2-receptor antagonist for the control of nocturnal gastric acid breakthrough: a Cochrane systematic review.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effectiveness and safety of additional bedtime H(2)-receptor antagonists (H(2)RAs) in suppressing nocturnal gastric acid breakthrough (NAB) via a systematic review.


METHODS
Eligible trials were identified by searching the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (Cochrane Library Issue 2, 2004), MEDLINE (January 1966-June 2004), EMBASE (January 1980-June 2004) and CINAHL (January 1982-June 2004). Additional hand-searching was conducted on the proceedings of correlated conferences, eight important Chinese journals and references of all included trials. All randomized controlled trials evaluating H(2)RAs for the control of NAB were eligible for inclusion. The systematic review was conducted using methods recommended by The Cochrane Collaboration.


RESULTS
Only two randomized crossover studies, comprising 32 participants, met the inclusion criteria. Because the design, dosage and duration of the treatments were different between the studies, it was not possible to conduct meta-analysis. There were no consistent conclusions found between the two included studies in evaluating H(2)RAs for the control of NAB.


CONCLUSIONS
No implications for practice at this stage can be concluded. Appropriately designed large-scale randomized controlled trials with long-term follow up are needed to determine the effects of additional bedtime H(2)RAs in suppressing NAB.
Pan
Tao
T
Department of Gastroenterology, The First People's Hospital of Chengdu, China.
Wang
Yi Ping
YP
Liu
Fu Cheng
FC
Yang
Jin Lin
JL
D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005744:Gastric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D011899:Ranitidine / Q000008:administration & dosage
D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists; D011899:Ranitidine; D009853:Omeprazole