EFFECT OF INTRAVENOUS-INFUSION OF OMEPRAZOLE AND RANITIDINE ON 24-HOUR INTRAGASTRIC PH IN PATIENTS WITH A HISTORY OF DUODENAL-ULCER

The effect on intragastric pH of two different dose regimens of contin uous intravenous infusion of omeprazole (4 or 8 mg/h after a bolus of 80 mg), and ranitidine (0.25 mg/kg/h after a bolus of 50 mg) was studi ed in 10 patients with duodenal ulcer disease in symptomatic remission . The pH was monitored over 24-hour periods during fasting in a cross- over, randomised design including a baseline period. With the high ome prazole dose it was possible to maintain a pH greater than or equal to 4 in all patients but 1 and 6 of the patients also maintained a pH gr eater than or equal to 6. The lower dose of omeprazole seemed to be so mewhat less effective. Continuous infusion of ranitidine was as effici ent as the higher omeprazole infusion although with a tendency to decr eased pH levels towards the end of the 24-hour period. Thus, in order to obtain consistently high pH levels of 4-6 over a prolonged period a continuous infusion of omeprazole, an 80-mg bolus plus a continuous i nfusion of 8 mg/h seem to be needed.