Treatment of moderate to severe gastro-oesophageal reflux with an alginate/antacid combination.

An open study was carried out in 37 patients, with chronic, moderate to severe gastric or bilious reflux associated with hiatus hernia or subsequent to gastro-oesophageal surgery, to assess the effectiveness of an alginate/antacid combination product ('Gastrocote'). The overall success rate of treatment was 81% after 6 months, 23 (62.2%) having complete relief of symptoms and 7 (18.9%) experiencing only occasional symptoms. The 7 patients who failed to respond required surgical repair of their hiatus hernia. No adverse effects of treatment were reported.