Double blind, randomised, placebo controlled study of four weeks of lansoprazole for the treatment of functional dyspepsia in Chinese patients

Background: The use of proton pump inhibitors for the treatment of functional dyspepsia is controversial and the role of Helicobacter pylori infection in functional dyspepsia is uncertain. Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of different doses of lansoprazole for the treatment of functional dyspepsia in Chinese patients. Method: Patients with a clinical diagnosis of functional dyspepsia according to the Rome 11 criteria and normal upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were recruited and randomised to receive: (1) lansoprazole 30 mg, (2) lansoprazole 15 mg, or (3) placebo, all given daily for four weeks. Dyspepsia symptom scores and quality of life (SF-36 score) were evaluated before and four weeks after treatment. Results: A total of 453 patients were randomised. There was no difference in the proportion of patients with complete symptom relief in the lansoprazole 30 mg (23%) and lansoprazole 15 mg (23%) groups compared with the placebo group (30%). The proportion of H pylori positive patients with a complete response was similar with lansoprazole 30 mg (34%) and lansoprazole 15 mg (20%) versus placebo (22%). All symptom subgroups (ulcer-like, dysmotility-like, reflux-like, and unspecified dyspepsia) had similar proportions of patients with complete symptom relief after treatment. Conclusion: Proton pump inhibitor treatment is not superior to placebo for the management of functional dyspepsia in Chinese patients.