Treatment of reflux oesophagitis with ranitidine.

The efficacy of ranitidine was evaluated using a two-staged trial in patients with endoscopically moderate or severe reflux oesophagitis. The results of a six week double blind placebo controlled trial (stage I) in 36 patients shows that ranitidine (150 mg bd) is superior to placebo in the acute treatment with significant symptomatic improvement concerning heartburn and regurgitation, and in healing or improvement of endoscopic lesions. Prolonged treatment with ranitidine for another six weeks (stage II) proved to be effective in more resistant cases. No clinical side effects or significant biochemical changes were noted during this trial.