[The short term effect of rabeprazol versus omeprazole on symptom relief of duodenal ulcer].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the therapeutic effect on duodenal ulcer symptoms and safety of rabeprazol as compared with omeprazole.

METHODS

This is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. Patients with active duodenal ulcer were divided into group A treated with rabeprazole 10 mg/day and group B treated with omeprazole 20 mg/day. The duration of treatment was 7 days in both groups. All the symptoms including abdominal pain, acid regurgitation, belching and abdominal bloatness were evaluated before and during the treatment.

RESULTS

All patients enrolled in group A (108 cases) and group B (103 cases) went through the study. Between the two groups, there were no differences in the mean time of partial and complete pain relief rates every day. The partial pain relief rate on day one was higher in group A (56%) than that in group B (33%, P < 0.05). On day seven, acid regurgitation relief rate was higher in group A than that in group B (100% and 83%, respectively, P < 0.05). No significant difference in the rate of partial pain relief and acid regurgitation on the other days of the treatment. The relief rate of abdominal bloatness and belching everyday in the two groups were similar. No adverse events took place in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Rabeprazole (10 mg/day) has excellent therapeutic effect on the symptoms of duodenal ulcer patients. The effects on the relief of pain and acid regurgitation are better than those of omeprazole. Rabeprazole for short term using is safe.