In 249 patients with acute symptomatic reflux esophagitis grade II and III (Savary-Miller classification), we compared the efficacy and safety of pantoprazole, a newly developed proton pump inhibitor given at a once-daily dose of 40 mg, with a standard dose of the H2 receptor antagonist ranitidine (150 mg b.i.d.) in a randomized, double-blind, multicenter study. Complete healing was achieved after 4 and 8 weeks of therapy (protocol-correct) in 69 and 82% (pantoprazole) and 57 and 67% (ranitidine), respectively (p = 0.054 at 4 weeks and p