Abstract
The usefulness of omeprazole (OPZ) was comparatively studied between two groups : 1) 95 cases of gastric ulcer and 54 cases of duodenal ulcer treated with OPZ, and 2)109 cases of gastric ulcer and 61 cases of duodenal ulcer treated with H2-receptor antagonist (H2-RA). The cumulative healing rates of the gastric and duodenal ulcers at the initial treatment were higher in OPZ group than in H2-RA one. The recurrent rates during maintenance treatment were almost equal or higher in OPZ group. Serum gastrin level rose significantly after OPZ was administrated ; but it came down to the pre-administra-tion level 4 weeks after the administration was interrupted. Seven of 9 cases of H2-RA resistant ulcer were healed with OPZ administered for 72 weeks or less. The abnormally high level of the serum gastrin was observed in 3 of 7 cases which were administered double doses of OPZ for a longer period, but it came down to the pre-administration level after the administration was interrupted. It was considered that OPZ is useful for the initial therapy to ordinary ulcer and also H2-RA resistant ulcer, and hypergastrinemia does not occur if OPZ is administered within 6 to 8 weeks. The safety in long-term administration of OPZ needs further consideration, and more effective initial and maintenance treatment should be investigated to prevent ulcer recurrence.
