Prevention of gastric ulcer recurrence with tetraprenylacetone.

BACKGROUND

The role of cytoprotective agents in the treatment of ulcers remains unclear. In the present study we investigated the effect of tetraprenylacetone (TAP), a cytoprotective agent, on healing and recurrence of gastric ulcers infected with Helicobacter pylori and on the mucosal microvascular architecture of healed gastric ulcers.

PATIENTS

Ninety-five gastric ulcer patients with H. pylori infection were studied.

METHODS

Gastric ulcer patients with H. pylori infection received 20 mg omeprazole (44 patients) or 20 mg omeprazole and 150 mg TAP (46 patients) in random fashion. Ulcer healing was assessed with endoscopy 12 weeks after the start of treatment. The patients with healed ulcer were followed up for another 12 months without further therapy. During endoscopic examination at week 12, biopsy specimens were obtained from healed gastric ulcers, and the gastric mucosal microvascular architecture of the biopsy specimens was observed by means of the alkaline phosphatase staining method.

RESULTS

The rate of ulcer healing at week 12 was similar in patients treated with omeprazole with and without TAP. However, at or within 12 months of the start of follow-up observation, ulcers recurred significantly less frequently in patients treated with both omeprazole and TAP than in those treated with omeprazole alone. Alkaline phosphatase staining methods showed that the mucosal microvascular architecture improved significantly more frequently in healed gastric ulcers that had been treated with both omeprazole and TAP than in those treated with omeprazole alone.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment with TAP plus omeprazole significantly decreases ulcer recurrence through TAP's improved mucosal restoration.