EFFICACY OF FAMOTIDINE IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE GASTRIC-MUCOSAL INJURY AFTER CONTINUOUS-INFUSION OF CISPLATIN PLUS VINDESINE

The effect of famotidine (H-2 blocker) on the gastroduodenal mucosal i njury induced by chemotherapy in non-small-cell lung cancer patients w as prospectively evaluated from the clinical and endoscopic findings o btained in a randomized double-blind study. The patients, who were adm inistered cisplatin (25 mg/m(2)/day, continuous infusion, days 1-5) an d vindesine (3 mg/m(2), bolus, days 1 and 8), were randomized into two groups, those administered famotidine (40 mg/day, oral) and those adm inistered the placebo. The patients were examined by gastroduodenoscop y within 7 days before and after chemotherapy. There were 27 patients in the famotidine group and 28 patients in the placebo group. The gast ric mucosal score after chemotherapy was significantly lower in the fa motidine group than in the placebo group (P < 0.01), and in the 42 pat ients without symptoms than in the 13 patients (placebo group: 8, famo tidine group: 5) with upper gastrointestinal symptoms (P < 0.01). The pH of the gastric juice after the chemotherapy significantly decreased in the placebo group (P < 0.05), and was significantly lower in the p lacebo group than in the famotidine group (P = 0.01). The co-administr ation of famotidine was effective in the prevention and control of che motherapy-induced gastric mucosal injury.