COMPARATIVE TRIAL OF PANTOPRAZOLE AND RANITIDINE IN THE TREATMENT OF REFLUX ESOPHAGITIS - RESULTS OF A GERMAN MULTICENTER STUDY

In 249 patients with acute symptomatic reflux esophagitis grade II and III (Savary-Miller classification), we compared the efficacy and safe ty of pantoprazole, a newly developed proton pump inhibitor given at a once-daily dose of 40 mg, with a standard dose of the H-2 receptor an tagonist ranitidine (150 mg b.i.d.) in a randomized, double-blind, mul ticenter study. Complete healing was achieved after 4 and 8 weeks of t herapy (protocol-correct) in 69 and 82% (pantoprazole) and 57 and 67% (ranitidine), respectively (p = 0.054 at 4 weeks and p < 0.01 at 8 wee ks). The predominant symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux, i.e., heartb urn and acid eructation, were more effectively reduced in pantoprazole - than in ranitidine-treated patients. The frequency of adverse events was low and did not differ between the two treatment groups. We concl ude that pantoprazole is superior to ranitidine in the acute treatment of reflux esophagitis.