Omeprazole in the treatment of patients with complicated gastro-oesophageal reflux disease

Suppression of acid secretion with omeprazole is highly effective for the healing of oesophagitis. The aims of the present study were to determine whether recovery of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease in patients with stricture improves dysphagia and decreases the dilatation need and to compare the efficacy of omeprazole versus H-2-receptor antagonists. Thirty-eight patients with peptic stricture (grade IV oesophagitis) and erosive oesophagitis underwent endoscopic dilatation and were randomized to omeprazole (40 mg daily; n = 20) versus ranitidine (150 mg twice daily; n = 18). Healing was proven endoscopically and patients were interviewed for dysphagia relief. Patients were assessed for relapse by endoscopy 6 months later. The follow-up period was a further 6 months. Patients received maintenance treatment with 40 mg omeprazole daily or ranitidine 150 mg twice daily and the total duration of treatment was I year. At 6 months, omeprazole produced a highly significant (P < 0.0001) greater rate of oesophagitis healing and highly significant (P < 0.0001) fewer dilatations compared with H-2-receptor antagonists (18 (90%) patients vs five (28%) patients, respectively; 3.5 vs 9.0 dilatations/patient). At 12 months, nor one of the 18 successfully treated patients from the omeprazole group had relapsed. The two remaining patients required further dilatation and 40 and 60 mg omeprazole daily for healing. In comparison, all patients on ranitidine had to undergo further bougienage. In conclusion, omeprazole is a safe and effective maintenance treatment for preventing relapse of complicated reflux oesophagitis.