Healing of Benign Gastric and Prepyloric Ulcers: A Prospective, Endoscopy-Controlled, Randomized, Double-Blind, Canadian Multicentre Study of Omeprazole 20 and 40 mg Daily and Rantidine 150 mg Twice a Day

A double-blind, randomized study was conducted in 118 patientswith benign gastric or prepyloric ulcers to compare the efficacy of omeprazole 20or 40 mg daily with ranitidine 150 mg twice daily. The healing rates at four weekswere 67, 79 and 54% and at eight weeks increased to 90, 97 and 71 % for theomeprazole 20 and 40 mg groups and the ranitidine group, respectively (P< 0.03for the differences between each of the omeprazole groups and the ranitidinegroup at eight weeks). Multivariate analysis showed influence on healing rate forulcer size but not for smoking status, sex or ulcer site. Symptomatic relief wasexcellent and similar in the three groups. Ulcer recurrence during the six monthfollow-up off treatment after initial ulcer healing did not differ between the threegroups. No serious adverse events could be attributed to the drugs. The authorsconclude that treatment with omeprazole 20 or 40 mg daily for a period of fourto eight weeks is safe and significantly more effective in ulcer healing than astandard dose of ranitidine