Omeprazole or Ranitidine in the Treatment of Reflux Esophagitis: Results of a Double-Blind, Randomized, Scandinavian Multicenter Study

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Abstract
One hundred and fifty-two patients with endoscopically verified erosive and/or ulcerative esophagitis entered a double-blind, randomized study comparing 20 mg omeprazole given once daily and ranitidine 150 mg twice daily. The efficacy and safety of 4 to 8 weeks'' treatment were studied. Macroscopic healing of esophagitis was defined as complete epithelialization of all esophageal erosive and/or ulcerative lesions. One hundred an forty-four patients completed the first 4 weeks of treatment in accordance with the protocol. The healing rate was 67% in the omeprazole group and 31% in the ranitidine group (p < 0.0001). The corresponding figures after 8 weeks'' treatment were 85% and 50%, respectively (p < 0.0001). The higher healing rate for omeprazole was also accompanied by a significantly faster and more substantial improvemnt in reflux symptoms. In the patient''s own overall evalution of symptoms, these had resolved in 51% of the omeprazole-treated patients already at the end of the 1st week of treatment, compared with 27% of those given ranitidine (p = 0.009). Both omeprazole and ranitidine were well tolerated, and there were no adverse events or clinically significant changes in the laboratory values attributable to the trial medication.