Lansoprazole in the treatment of heartburn in patients without erosive oesophagitis

Background: This randomized, double-blind, multicentre study compared lansoprazole with placebo for symptomatic relief of patients with non-erosive gastrooesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Methods: 214 patients with symptomatic, non-erosive GERD (moderate to severe daytime and/or night-time heartburn greater than half the days over the past 6 months and during the 7- to 10-day pre-treatment period) were randomized to either lansoprazole 15 mg or lansoprazole 30 mg, or placebo o.d. for 8 weeks. Results: Daily diary data indicated that on the first treatment day a statistically significantly smaller percentage of lansoprazole patients reported daytime and night-time heartburn and antacid usage, compared with placebo patients. Lansoprazole patients also reported statistically significant less severe daytime and night-time heartburn on the first treatment day. During 0-4, 4-8, and 0-8 weeks of therapy, a statistically significant smaller percentage of days and nights with heartburn, less severe daytime and nighttime heartburn, and less antacid usage were observed in the lansoprazole group compared to the placebo group. The percentages of patients with adverse reactions were similar in the lansoprazole and placebo groups. Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrate that lansoprazole is an appropriate therapy for patients with symptomatic non-erosive GERD.