Prevention of Duodenal Ulcer Recurrence with 15 mg Lansoprazole (A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study)
Although eradication of Helicobacter pyloricures duodenal ulcer, some patients are not infected andothers are treatment failures. This randomized,double-blind, placebocontrolled study assessed the value of treatment with low-dose lansoprazole inpreventing duodenal ulcer recurrence. One hundredeighty-six patients with endoscopic documentation ofhealed duodenal ulcer received 15 mg/day lansoprazole or placebo for 12 months or until ulcer recurred.Endoscopy results, symptom assessment, and fasting serumgastrin levels were obtained at multiple time points.Densities of E, EC, and G cells were assessed by biopsy when the ulcer recurred or at thefinal visit. Time to ulcer recurrence was significantlylonger (P < 0.001) in the lansoprazole group (median>12 months) compared to placebo (median <3months), and patients taking lansoprazole wereasymptomatic longer (P < 0.05). Maintenance therapywith lansoprazole 15 mg/day suppresses acid and controlsrecurrence of duodenal ulcer disease.