[High-dose ranitidine protects stomach and duodenum completely against piroxicam. An endoscopic double-blind pilot study].

In a randomized placebo-controlled parallel and double-blind study the gastroduodenal effects of 20 mg piroxicam daily was evaluated endoscopically in the presence of ranitidine 150 mg bid or 300 mg bid in 31 healthy volunteers. Drugs were taken over a period of 14 days. Endoscopies were performed at entry and repeated after 14 days of treatment. A damage-score according to Lanza was used. At entry, all groups showed comparable mucosal damages in the stomach and in the duodenum. After 14 days the mean lesion score increased in the piroxicam/placebo group (group A) to 4.5 +/- 1.6 (+/- SEM) in the stomach and to 2.7 +/- 0.8 (+/- SEM) in the duodenum. The corresponding values in the piroxicam/ranitidine 150 mg bid group (group B) were 3.3 +/- 1.2 (stomach) (p > 0.05 vs. group A) and 1.4 +/- 0.7 (duodenum) (p < 0.05 vs. group A). The values in the piroxicam/ranitidine 300 mg bid group (group C) averaged 1.0 +/- 0.0 (stomach) and 0.3 +/- 0.1 (duodenum) (for both p < 0.05 vs. group A). Our data suggest that profound acid inhibition--achieved by doubling the usual dose--afforded complete protection of human stomach and duodenum against piroxicam.