title: A double-blind, controlled study comparing lafutidine with placebo and famotidine in Japanese patients with mild reflux esophagitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This randomized, double-blind, controlled study examined whether lafutidine is superior to placebo and non-inferior to famotidine in terms of healing rates as assessed by endoscopy in Japanese patients with mild reflux esophagitis. Safety and improvement in symptoms of heartburn were also assessed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with an endoscopic diagnosis of grade A or B reflux esophagitis according to the Los Angeles classification were randomly assigned to receive lafutidine (20 mg/day), famotidine (40 mg/day), or placebo for 8 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 584 patients enrolled in the study, 447 were diagnosed to have grade A or B reflux esophagitis by the Endoscopic Assessment Committee. Healing rates at 8 weeks were 71.0% (115/162) in the lafutidine group, 61.4% (86/140) in the famotidine group, and 9.7% (14/145) in the placebo group. Lafutidine was thus demonstrated to be superior to placebo and non-inferior to famotidine. As compared with placebo, lafutidine significantly improved symptoms of heartburn.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lafutidine has a high endoscopic healing rate and improves symptoms of heartburn in patients with mild reflux esophagitis. Lafutidine is considered a promising treatment option for mild reflux esophagitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Tohoku Rosai Hospital, Sendai, Japan. sohara1122@tohokuh.rofuku.go.jp
authors.forename: Shuichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohara
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Haruma
authors.forename: Yoshikazu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
authors.forename: Motoyasu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kusano
mesh_terms: D000081:Acetamides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004942:Esophagitis, Peptic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D015738:Famotidine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006356:Heartburn / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010880:Piperidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011725:Pyridines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000081:Acetamides; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists; D010880:Piperidines; D011725:Pyridines; C076948:lafutidine; D015738:Famotidine