[Evaluation of the effectiveness of pantoprazole and ranitidine in the treatment of duodenal ulcer. Result of an international multicenter study].

A double-blind, randomized, multicenter, multicountry study (Poland, Chech Republic, Hungary) was carried out in 1995 on patients (n = 326) with endoscopically confirmed duodenal ulcer treated with ranitidine vs. pantoprazole. In Hungary-in 4 gastroenterology centers-123 patients have been involved (age 18-75 years). The treatment schedule has been 300 mgs of ranitidine or 40 mgs of pantoprazole q. d. for 2 or if necessary for 4 weeks. In the Hungarian study 60 DU patients were treated with pantoprazole vs. 63 ones with ranitidine. Having finished the two-week schedule the healing rates of duodenal ulcer were as follows: pantoprazole 71%/72% (Hungary/International) vs ranitidine 57%/51%, (p < 0.001). After 4 weeks the corresponding values showed the following: pantoprazole 98%/94% vs. ranitidine 88%/86%, respectively, (p < 0.005). Both drugs have shown to be effective and safe to cure duodenal ulcer however in our study pantoprazole was significantly more efficacious and provided quicker healing than ranitidine.