Proton Pump Inhibitor Dose-Related Healing Rate of Artificial Ulcers after Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial

Background/Aims: Two studies have reported on the superiority of a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) compared with a histamine-2-receptor antagonist for the treatment of artificial ulcers after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), but the optimal dose of PPI remains to be defined. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possibility of reducing the dose of PPI. The authors thus compared 30 mg (standard-dose) and 15 mg (half-dose) lansoprazole in terms of ulcer healing, prevention of bleeding and quality of life. Methods: 91 patients with gastric mucosal neoplasm were enrolled. All patients who underwent ESD were administered lansoprazole 30 mg daily during the first week, after which they were randomly assigned to either the standard-dose or half-dose group. Results: One patient in each group developed hematemesis. The stage of ulcers, ulcer reduction ratios and scores on the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale did not differ at 28 and 56 days. The costs of PPI for the half-dose group and standard-dose group were 7,326.5 and 11,698.4 JPY, respectively, i.e. a difference of 471.9 JPY. Conclusions: A reduced dose of PPI after 1 week of ESD was equivalent in treatment performance to the standard dose and cheaper. Copyright (C) 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel