Search

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of lansoprazole 30mg once daily and esomeprazole 40mg once daily on healing and symptom relief in patients with erosive oesophagitis. Design: Phase IV, randomised, double-blind, active-controlled, multicentre study. Patients and participants: 284 patients with endoscopically confirmed erosive oesophagitis (grade ≥2). Methods: Patients were randomised to treatment with lansoprazole or esomeprazole. The primary efficacy endpoint was the healing of erosive oesophagitis (defined as grade 0 or 1) at week 8. Healing rates at week 4 and the percentages of patients reporting no daytime or night-time heartburn after 1 day, 3 days and 1 week of treatment, as well as the rate of healing or improvement of oesophagitis by two grades, were also analysed. Results: Healing rates and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) at week 8 were 91.4% (85.4, 95.5%) for lansoprazole 30mg once daily and 89.1% (82.7, 93.8%) for esomeprazole 40mg once daily, respectively. For any baseline grade, greater than 90% of lansoprazole-treated and 81% of esomeprazole-treated patients exhibited healing or improvement of erosive oesophagitis by two grades from baseline to week 8. Healing rates at week 4 were also comparable: 77.0% (95% CI 69.1, 83.7%) for lansoprazole 30mg and 78.3% (95% CI 70.4, 84.8%) for esomeprazole 40mg. The percentages of heartburn-free patients after 1 day, 3 days and 1 week of treatment were slightly higher for lansoprazole compared with esomeprazole, although the differences did not reach statistical significance (p > 0.05). Both treatments were well tolerated. Conclusions: In erosive oesophagitis, lansoprazole 30mg once daily and esomeprazole 40mg once daily are equally effective in healing erosions and relieving heartburn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents reactions to the medical issues of the 'British Medical Journal' in Great Britain. Restrictions on blood donors; Safety of Acyclovir in pregnancy; Treatment of analgesics.

Examines the maintenance treatment with hydrogen receptor antagonists in patients with peptic ulcer disease in terms of cost or patient benefit. Effectiveness of hydrogen receptor antagonists in keeping ulcer in remission; Treatment of patients with ulcer disease; Importance of treatment to be effective and safe.

Discusses the efficacy and safety of analgesics used for the treatment of common minor disorders occurring in pregnancy in Great Britain. Use of analgesics in early stages of pregnancy; Effect of analgesics on the fetus; Treatment of constipation by a bulking agent.

Examines the association of idiopathic hypoparathyroidism with stable untreated myelofibrosis. Effect of chemotherapy to neoplasms predisposing to hypoparathyroidism; Case report on a 77 year old woman with myelofibrosis; Convulsions associated with hypocalcemia; Significance of magnesium concentrations in parathyroid secretion.