EFFECTS OF LONG-TERM TREATMENT WITH LANSOPRAZOLE AND OMEPRAZOLE AN SERUM GASTRIN AND THE FUNDIC MUCOSA

Objective: To compare the effects of long-term lansoprazole and omepra zole treatment (6 months) on serum gastrin levels. Patients: Forty duo denal ulcer patients without previous treatment with proton pump inhib itors were randomized to receive either 20 mg/day or omeprazole or 30 mg/day of lansoprazole, Serum gastrin levels were determined on entry and every 2 months, On finalizing the study antral and fundic biopsies were obtained for immunohistochemical analysis of the enterochromaffi nlike cell population. Results: Before starting the treatment fasting serum gastrin was similar in both groups (108.7 +/- 60.9 pg/mL omepraz ole; 102.7 +/- 56.9 pg/mL lansoprazole), Tre treatment with either ome prazole or lansoprazole increased serum gastrin levels, but the increa se was mild, maximal at 2 months and similar between omeprazole and la nsoprazole (113.44 +/- 114.9 pg/mL omeprazole vs 166.1 +/- 117.9 pg/mL lansoprazole; p > 0.05), When serum gastrin levels were individually analyzed by patient, most were below 200 pg/mL and only 3 patients (1 omeprazole/2 lansoprazole) had levels near 500 pg/mL which were not co rrelated with enterochromaffin-like cell hyperplasia. Conclusions: Lon g-term treatment with either omeprazole or lansoprazole is safe, at le ast during 6 months, and results in mild hypergastrinemia, No differen ces between these two drugs were observed.