PANTOPRAZOLE VERSUS OMEPRAZOLE IN THE TREATMENT OF ACUTE GASTRIC-ULCERS

Background: Pantoprazole is a new substituted benzimidazole which is a potent inhibitor of gastric acid secretion by its action upon H+,K+-A TPase. Methods: The proton pump inhibitors pantoprazole and omeprazole were compared in a randomized, double-blind study in 219 patients wit h benign gastric ulcers. Patients received either pantoprazole 40 mg ( n = 146) or omeprazole 20 mg (n = 73), once daily before breakfast for 4 weeks. Treatment was extended for a further 4 weeks if the ulcer ha d not healed. Results: After 4 weeks, complete ulcer healing was seen in 88% of protocol-correct patients given pantoprazole and in 77% give n omeprazole (between-group difference P < 0.05), At 8 weeks, the corr esponding values were 97% and 96% (not significant). In the comparativ e intention-to-treat analysis there were no statistical differences be tween the treatment groups, Among the patients who had ulcer pain prio r to treatment, 79% of the pantoprazole group and 68% of the omeprazol e group were pain-free after 2 weeks, and after 4 weeks 88% and 81%, r espectively (not significant), Pronounced improvement in the other gas trointestinal symptoms was seen in both groups. Only 10% of patients i n each group reported adverse events. There were moderate increases in fasting serum gastrin levels with both treatments at 4 and 8 weeks. C onclusion: Pantoprazole, 40 mg once daily in the morning, is a highly effective, well tolerated treatment for acute, benign gastric ulcer, P antoprazole and omeprazole were equally safe in the therapy of gastric ulcer.