EFFECT OF A NEW FORMULATION OF ALMAGATE ON GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX INPATIENTS WITH ESOPHAGITIS - RANDOMIZED, SINGLE-BLIND, CROSS-OVER STUDY

The effect of postprandial administration of a new formulation of alma gate (1,5 g, po) or an association of alginate+antiacid (2,4 g, po) on gastric alkalinization and gastroesophageal reflux were assessed in a randomized, single-blind, cross-over study in 21 patients with gastro esophageal reflux disease. Continuous intragastric and esophageal acid ity was evaluated by postprandial intraluminal pHmetry. When comparing both preparations, the new formulation of almagate significantly impr oved all pHmetric variables (number of reflux episodes (3 vs 6, p = 0, 029), time of esophageal exposition to pH < 4,0 (1 vs 9 minutes, p = 0 ,009), duration of longest reflux episode (1 vs 3 minutes, p = 0,036), reflux index (1 vs 2, p = 0,047), and intragastric time with pH great er than 4,0 (108 vs 46 minutes, p = 0,003). This results suggest that the new formulation of almagate could be effective in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease, since acidity profile of patients tr eated with it have been shown an intragastric long-lasting alkalinizat ion wave.