Aim: To investigate the efficacy of a low dose of pantoprazole, a gastric proton pump inhibitor, for the relief of symptoms and healing of lesions in mild gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and to compare it with the efficacy of ranitidine.
Methods: Patients with endoscopically established GERD (Stage I, Savary-Miller classification) were enrolled into a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group and multicentre study (intention-to-treat n = 209, age range 19-82 years). They were treated once daily with oral pantoprazole 20 mg or ranitidine 300 mg, for up to 8 weeks. End-point parameters included relief of symptoms (heartburn, acid regurgitation, pain on swallowing) and the healing of GERD lesions. Relief from symptoms was assessed after 2 and 4 weeks, and endoscopically confirmed healing of lesions after 4 and 8 weeks.
Results: The proportion of patients reporting complete relief from symptoms after 2 weeks was greater in the pantoprazole than in the ranitidine group (69 vs. 48%, P < 0.01), with further improvements seen in the pantoprazole group after 4 weeks (80 vs. 65%, P < 0.05, Cochran-Mantel/Haenszel test). Healing of lesions was confirmed in 70/87 (80%) patients after 4 weeks (pantoprazole group), as compared with 55/86 (64%) patients (ranitidine group) (P < 0.05, per protocol population); after 8 weeks the respective results were 78/87 (90%) and 63/86 (73%) patients (P < 0.01). Both study medications were well tolerated.
Conclusion: Low-dose pantoprazole (20 mg) is clinically superior to ranitidine (300 mg) in providing fast relief from symptoms and healing of lesions in patients with mild GERD.