Healing rate of EMR-induced ulcer in relation to the duration of treatment with omeprazole

Background. Although EMR-induced ulcers heal faster and recur less often than noniatrogenic gastric ulcers, there is no consensus regarding the duration of therapy for these ulcers. This study prospectively evaluated healing of EMR-induced ulcers according to the duration of omeprazole therapy. Methods: A total of 69 patients were randomly assigned, after EMR, to treatment with omeprazole (20 mg per day) for 7 days (1-week group) or with omeprazole (20 mg per day) for 28 days (4-week group). Four weeks after EMR, ulcer size and stage were compared with those of the initial EMR-induced ulcer. Each patient kept a daily diary of drugs consumed and ulcer-related symptoms during the 4-week period after EMR. Results: Thirty-four patients were randomized to the 4-week group, and 26 were randomized to the 1-week group. No significant differences were observed between the two groups at 4 weeks after EMR in terms of ulcer reduction ratio (p = 0.29) or stage (p = 0.11). In addition, no difference was observed between the two groups with respect to ulcer-related symptoms or use of additional gastric-coating medication (p = 0.48). Conclusions: For EMR-induced ulcer, treatment with omeprazole for 1 week is equivalent to treatment for 4 weeks. Short-term therapy with omeprazole can be considered for EMR-induced ulcer.