PANTOPRAZOLE 20 MG IS EFFECTIVE FOR RELIEF OF SYMPTOMS AND HEALING OFLESIONS IN MILD REFLUX ESOPHAGITIS

Aim: To investigate the efficacy of a low dose of pantoprazole, a gast ric proton pump inhibitor, for the relief of symptoms and healing of l esions in mild gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and to compar e it with the efficacy of ranitidine. Methods: Patients with endoscopi cally established GERD (Stage I, Savary-Miller classification) were en rolled into a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group and multicentre study (intention-to-treat n = 209, age range 19-82 years). They were treated once daily with oral pantoprazole 20 mg or ranitidine 300 mg, for up to 8 weeks. End-point parameters included relief of symptoms (h eartburn, acid regurgitation, pain on swallowing) and the healing of G ERD lesions. Relief from symptoms was assessed after 2 and 4 weeks, an d endoscopically confirmed healing of lesions after 4 and 8 weeks. Res ults: The proportion of patients reporting complete relief from sympto ms after 2 weeks was greater in the pantoprazole than in the ranitidin e group (69 vs. 48%, P < 0.01), with further improvements seen in the pantoprazole group after 4 weeks (80 vs. 65%, P < 0.05, Cochran-Mantel /Haenszel test). Healing of lesions was confirmed in 70/87 (80%) patie nts after 4 weeks (pantoprazole group), as compared with 55/86 (64%) p atients (ranitidine group) (P < 0.05, per protocol population); after 8 weeks the respective results were 78/87 (90%) and 63/86 (73%) patien ts (P < 0.01). Both study medications were well tolerated. Conclusion: Low-dose pantoprazole (20 mg) is clinically superior to ranitidine (3 00 mg) in providing fast relief from symptoms and healing of lesions i n patients with mild GERD.