[The effect of proton pump inhibitor on healing of post-esophageal variceal ligation ulcers].
OBJECTIVE
Esophageal variceal ligation (EVL) is the most preferable method for controlling variceal bleeding. However, EVL is associated with complications such as hemorrhage, chest pain, dysphagia, and odynophagia due to post-EVL ulcers in the esophageal mucosa. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of proton pump inhibitor (PPI), pantoprazole on the healing of post-EVL ulcers.


METHODS
Forty seven patients were randomly allocated into PPI group and control group. Patients in PPI group received 40 mg of pantoprazole intravenously for 3 days after EVL, then 40 mg of oral pantoprazole for 11 days consecutively. Control patients received intravenous and oral placebo. Endoscopic examinations were performed twice at 7+/-2 days and 14+/-2 days after EVL respectively. Clinical outcomes include the size of ulcers, symptoms reported by patients; chest pain, dysphagia, and odynophagia.


RESULTS
Forty seven patients completed the 7 days protocol (PPI/control; 25/22), and twenty six patients completed the 14 days protocol (PPI/control; 16/10). Post-EVL ulcers in PPI group were significantly smaller than those in control group (7 days; 98.7 mm2/119.4 m2, 14 days; 32.3 m2/43.8 m2, p<0.01). No difference was observed between two the groups with respect to summations of symptom scores (p> 0.05). Nineteen patients (PPI/control; 9/10) did not complete the 14 days protocol due to patients' refusal and adverse outcomes, such as hepatic failure and sepsis with bleeding from post-EVL ulcer occurred in two patients of control group.


CONCLUSIONS
PPI treatment following EVL may be effective in healing post-EVL ulcer.
Department of Internal Medicine, Chosun University College of Medicine, Gwangju, Korea. boogbim@yahoo.co.kr
Gwi Beom
GB
Boo
Jong Chan
JC
Oh
Beom Ju
BJ
Lee
Dong Min
DM
Lee
Young Dae
YD
Kim
Chan Guk
CG
Park
Man Woo
MW
Kim
D053799:2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008026:Ligation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077402:Pantoprazole; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D014456:Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
D053799:2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors; D000077402:Pantoprazole