Treatment of reflux oesophagitis with trimoprostil.

Forty-four patients with symptomatic endoscopically proven mild to moderate reflux oesophagitis were enrolled in a single-centre, double-blind, clinical trial comparing trimoprostil 750 micrograms taken 4 times daily with placebo. Patients treated with trimoprostil but not placebo experienced a significant reduction in the frequency (p less than 0.005) and duration (p less than 0.02) of heartburn. Both groups reported a reduction in the severity of heartburn and resulting sleep disturbance during the trial, but differences between them in these respects at the end of the trial did not reach statistical significance. There was a significant reduction in the severity of oesophagitis seen at endoscopy after treatment with trimoprostil (p less than 0.01) but not placebo. Trimoprostil was well tolerated and appears to be more effective than placebo in the treatment of mild to moderate symptomatic reflux oesophagitis. Although this agent's mode of action was not investigated, we speculate that it may be protective to human squamous oesophageal mucosa.