Famotidine is inferior to pantoprazole in preventing recurrence of aspirin-related peptic ulcers or erosions.
OBJECTIVE
Little is known about the efficacy of H(2)-receptor antagonists in preventing recurrence of aspirin-related peptic ulcers. We compared the efficacy of high-dose famotidine with that of pantoprazole in preventing recurrent symptomatic ulcers/erosions.


METHODS
We performed a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial of 160 patients with aspirin-related peptic ulcers/erosions, with or without a history of bleeding. Patients were given either famotidine (40 mg, morning and evening) or pantoprazole (20 mg in the morning and placebo in the evening). All patients continued to receive aspirin (80 mg daily). The primary end point was recurrent dyspeptic or bleeding ulcers/erosions within 48 weeks.


RESULTS
A total of 130 patients (81.1%) completed the study; 13 of 65 patients in the famotidine group reached the primary end point (20.0%; 95% one-sided confidence interval [CI] for the risk difference, 0.1184-1.0) compared with 0 of 65 patients in the pantoprazole group (P < .0001, 95% one-sided CI for the risk difference, 0.1184-1.0). Gastrointestinal bleeding was significantly more common in the famotidine group than the pantoprazole group (7.7% [5/65] vs 0% [0/65]; 95% one-sided CI for the risk difference, 0.0226-1.0; P = .0289), as was recurrent dyspepsia caused by ulcers/erosions (12.3% [8/65] vs 0% [0/65]; 95% one-sided CI for the risk difference, 0.0560-1.0; P = .0031). No patients had ulcer perforation or obstruction.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with aspirin-related peptic ulcers/erosions, high-dose famotidine therapy is inferior to pantoprazole in preventing recurrent dyspeptic or bleeding ulcers/erosions.
Ng
Fook-Hong
FH
Department of Medicine and Geriatric, Ruttonjee Hospital, Hong Kong, China. ngfhong@hkucc.hku.hk
Wong
Siu-Yin
SY
Lam
Kwok-Fai
KF
Chu
Wai-Ming
WM
Chan
Pierre
P
Ling
Yuk-Hei
YH
Kng
Carolyn
C
Yuen
Wai-Cheung
WC
Lau
Yuk-Kong
YK
Kwan
Ambrose
A
Wong
Benjamin C Y
BC
D053799:2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001241:Aspirin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015738:Famotidine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077402:Pantoprazole; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D053799:2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists; D015738:Famotidine; D000077402:Pantoprazole; D001241:Aspirin