[Ranitidine in the therapy and prevention of NSAR-induced (non-steroidal anti-rheumatic agents) gastroduodenal lesions in patients with rheumatism].

178 patients with various rheumatic disorders who had been treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) for at least 32 months, were enrolled in this open trial. Entry criteria were both the presence of endoscopic lesions in gastric and/or duodenal mucosa as well as dyspeptic symptoms. All patients were treated with ranitidine 150 mg bid for 4 weeks; 127 of them continued to take their original medication. Only in a small subgroup of 21 patients the NSAIDs were withdrawn. Mean gastric lesions scores averaged at entry in both treatment groups 2.2 and 2.0; the corresponding duodenal values were 2.2 and 2.6. After 4 weeks therapy a significant reduction of the mean gastric and duodenal damaging scores was observed (p less than 0.05). In addition, a marked symptomatic relief occurred. In the subsequent prophylactic trial 98 patients could be followed for 3 months and 59 patients for at least 6 months. 44 patients (3 months) and 36 patients (6 months) received in addition to their antirheumatic medication ranitidine 150 mg bid, whereas 54 patients (3 months) and 23 patients (6 months) were without any antiulcer therapy. The calculated relapse rates within 6 months were in the presence of ranitidine only 12% and without ranitidine 63% (p less than 0.05). Our data emphasize the efficacy of H2-receptor antagonist both in the therapy as well as in the prophylaxis of NSAID-induced lesions in the upper GI-tract.