[Reflux esophagitis: a comparative study of lansoprazole and omeprazole as short-term therapy. Preliminary report].

BACKGROUND

Reflux Esophagitis is a common complaint from the upper gastrointestinal tract with a figured out prevalence of about 2%. Therapeutic results in this pathology have been unsatisfactory.

AIM

To compare lansoprazole and omeprazole therapeutic effects in patients with reflux esophagitis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A clinical, double-blinded, balanced survey was randomly designed with patients who would daily receive 30 mg lansoprazole (Group A) or 20 mg omeprazole (Group B) during a 4-week period. All patients were submitted to endoscopy and biopsy both at the beginning and at the end of the survey.

RESULTS

Ten patients in each group were treated without any significant differences in sex, age, nicotinism, alcoholism, AINES ingestion, development time, pain regurgitations, pyrrosis, hematemesis, dysphagia, melena, nausea or vomiting, and esophagitis degree. A complete cure in 8/10 (omeprazole) and 7/10 (lansoprazole) patients was obtained (p = n.s.). However, the histological results of the biopsy at the end of the four-week period proved to be a failure in 4/10 (omeprazole) and in 5/10 (lansoprazole) patients (p = n.s.). The endoscopy and clinical result at the end of the study were similarly effective; but not so the histological damage to the esophagus, which continues to be important.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of bomb inhibitors in esophagitis by reflux is advisable. Future surveys must assess the average time of treatment for the disappearance of the histologic lesion.