Abstract

One hundred and sixty two patients with endoscopically proved reflux oesophagitis stratified for severity, 66 with grade 1 disease (erythema and friability) and 96 with grade 2 or 3 disease (including erosions or ulcerations), were allocated at random to double blind treatment with omeprazole 40 mg in the morning or ranitidine 150 mg twice daily for up to 12 weeks. A patient could be evaluated sooner if symptomatic relief and endoscopically normal mucosa (grade 0) were noted after four to eight weeks' treatment. Patients treated with omeprazole responded significantly more rapidly than those treated with ranitidine (p<0.0001), cumulative healing rates at four, eight, and 12 weeks being 90%, 100%, and 100% respectively for those with grade 1 disease and 70%, 85%, and 91% respectively for those with grade 2 or 3 disease in the omeprazole group. Corresponding rates in the ranitidine group were 55%, 79%, and 88% (grade 1) and 26%, 44%, and 54% (grade 2 or 3). Relief of the major symptoms of heartburn, regurgitation, and dysphagia and improvements in the histological appearance of the mucosa occurred earlier and were again more pronounced during treatment with omeprazole than with ranitidine.

This observed superiority of omeprazole 40 mg in the morning over ranitidine 150 mg twice daily in the short term treatment of reflux oesophagitis was obtained without major clinical or biochemical side effects, but further research is needed into longer term use of omeprazole and the effects of the acid inhibition it induces.