A COMPARISON OF 3 DOSES OF LANSOPRAZOLE (15, 30 AND 60 MG) AND PLACEBO IN THE TREATMENT OF DUODENAL-ULCER

Background: Lansoprazole is a new proton pump inhibitor for the treatm ent of peptic ulcer disease. Methods: A double-blind, multicentre stud y was undertaken in 296 patients with endoscopically proven duodenal u lcer to compare the efficacy and safety of lansoprazole 15, 30 or 60 m g with placebo. Ulcer healing was documented by endoscopy at 2 and 4 w eeks; patients whose ulcers healed after 4 weeks were followed for up to 6 months post-treatment. Results: Four-week healing rates of 89.4%, 91.7% and 89.9% were obtained with lansoprazole 15, 30 and 60 mg, res pectively, compared with 46.1% on placebo (P < 0.001). All three doses of lansoprazole produced rapid symptom relief, although patients taki ng 60 mg lansoprazole required fewer antacids than did those taking 15 mg. At 6 months, the percentages of patients healed were 45.3%, 40.0% and 38.4% in the lansoprazole 15, 30 and 60 mg dosage groups, respect ively, and 25.3% for the placebo group. No significant adverse events were documented during the period of this trial. Conclusion: Lansopraz ole is an effective and safe treatment for duodenal ulcer and the 15 m g dose is as effective as 30 or 60 mg.