A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, 8-week comparative trial of low-dose esomeprazole (20 mg) and standard-dose omeprazole (20 mg) in patients with erosive esophagitis.

Author(s): Lightdale CJ, Schmitt C, Hwang C, Hamelin B

Affiliation(s): Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, Harkness Pavillion, 7th Floor, Room 712, New York, New York 10032, USA. cjl18@columbia.edu

Publication date & source: 2006-05, Dig Dis Sci., 51(5):852-7. Epub 2006 Jun 14.

Publication type: Multicenter Study; Randomized Controlled Trial

The objective of this trial was to compare the efficacy of esomeprazole, 20 mg, with that of omeprazole, 20 mg, in patients with erosive esophagitis (EE). In this multicenter, double-blind, parallel-group trial, 1176 patients with EE confirmed by endoscopy (Helicobacter pylori-negative by serology) were randomized to once-daily treatment with 20 mg esomeprazole or 20 mg omeprazole for 8 weeks. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with healed EE through week 8. Secondary outcomes included diary and investigator assessments of heartburn symptoms. Cumulative life-table healing rates at week 8 were similarly high for 20 mg esomeprazole (90.6%; 95% confidence interval, 88.1%-93%) and 20 mg omeprazole (88.3%; 95% confidence interval, 85.5%-91.0%). The two treatments were comparable for other secondary measures and had similar tolerability profiles.