THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS OF LANSOPRAZOLE ON PEPTIC-ULCERS IN ELDERLY PATIENTS

We studied the effects of lansoprazole on ulcer healing and Helicobact er pylori infection in elderly patients with peptic ulcers, In a group of 24 patients with gastric ulcers, the H. pylori infection rate was 100%. In the course of gastric ulcer healing with famotidine or lansop razole alone, the H. pylori infection showed no signs of decline. The deer healing rates after 8 weeks were similar between the H-2-receptor antagonist famotidine (73%), and the proton pump inhibitor lansoprazo le (82%). When eradication of H. pylori infection was attempted by con comitant administration of lansoprazole and amoxicillin 500 mg b.i.d. for 2 weeks, the eradication rate was 33% in the group given lansopraz ole 30 mg q.d. plus ampicillin 500 mg b.i.d., whereas it was 77% in th e group given lansoprazole 30 mg b.i.d. plus ampicillin 500 mg b.i.d. Lansoprazole is considered to be a useful agent for the treatment of p atients with peptic ulcers and H. pylori infection and its effectivene ss in H. pylori eradication is improved by b.i.d. administration along with ampicillin.