COMPARISON OF PANTOPRAZOLE VERSUS OMEPRAZOLE IN THE TREATMENT OF ACUTE DUODENAL ULCERATION - A MULTICENTER STUDY

Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, multicentre study, the prot on pump inhibitors pantoprazole and omeprazole were compared in patien ts with active duodenal ulcers. Two hundred and seventy-six protocol-c orrect patients received either pantoprazole 40 mg (n = 185) or omepra zole 20 mg (n = 91), once daily for 2 or 4 weeks, depending on the pro gress of ulcer healing. Results: Rates of complete ulcer healing after 2 weeks were 71% in patients given pantoprazole and 74% in patients g iven omeprazole, After 4 weeks the figures were 96% and 91%, respectiv ely, These differences were not significant. There was no significant difference in ulcer pain prior to treatment, and 85% of the pantoprazo le group and 86% on omeprazole were pain-free after 2 weeks (not signi ficant). The time until complete pain relief with pantoprazole or omep razole, based on data from diary cards, was not significantly differen t (P > 0.05, Uleman's U-test). Both treatments were equally well toler ated. Changes in routine laboratory parameters were minimal in both gr oups, Conclusion: Pantoprazole was shown to be a highly-effective and well-tolerated treatment for acute duodenal ulcer, Pantoprazole 40 mg and omeprazole 20 mg were equally effective with respect to ulcer heal ing and pain relief, and have similar adverse event profiles.