LANSOPRAZOLE VERSUS OMEPRAZOLE IN ACTIVE DUODENAL-ULCER - A DOUBLE-BLIND, RANDOMIZED, COMPARATIVE-STUDY

Background: Lansoprazole is a new substituted benzimidazole that inhib its the H+,K+-adenosine triphosphatase in the parietal cell and, like the first developed proton pump inhibitor omeprazole, gives a strong i nhibition of gastric acid output. Methods: In this double-blind random ized comparative study patients with active duodenal ulcers were treat ed with either 30 mg lansoprazole or 20 mg omeprazole in the morning. All demographic data in the two treatment groups were comparable. Resu lts: A total of 279 patients entered the study. There was no differenc e in healing rates between the groups either after 2 weeks (86.2% for lansoprazole and 82.1% for omeprazole) or after 4 weeks (97.1% and 96. 2%). No patient ceased treatment owing to side effects. Conclusions: B oth lansoprazole and omeprazole generate very high healing rates and g ood symptom relief in active duodenal ulcer. Side effects are few and mild.