[Different healing tendencies of reflux esophagitis following omeprazole and ranitidine. Results of a German-Austrian-Swiss multicenter study].

The effectiveness of a single, morning oral dose of 40 mg omeprazole or a twice daily oral dose of 150 mg ranitidine was compared in a randomized endoscopically controlled double-blind trial at 37 clinics in Austria, Germany and Switzerland. A total of 178 out-patients in stages I-IVa (after Savary and Miller) were entered into the trial: 78 in stage I, 60 in stage II, 27 in stage III, and in 13 in stage IVa. As early as at the end of the third treatment week there was a significantly higher rate of complete healing or reduction into a lower stage with omeprazole than ranitidine (85% vs 67%; P less than 0.02). After six treatment weeks, healing tendency after omeprazole compared with ranitidine was 85% vs 45% (P less than 0.04). Omeprazole also brought earlier improvement in symptoms. The difference was statistically significant for heartburn (pyrosis): P less than 0.01. Both drugs were equally well tolerated and there were no clinically significant side-effects. This is the first demonstration that the ATPase inhibitor omeprazole is superior to the H2-receptor antagonist ranitidine in the treatment of reflux oesophagitis.