EFFECT OF FAMOTIDINE IN GASTRIC ACIDITY, PLASMA SECRETIN AND GASTRIN IN DUODENAL ULCER PATIENTS

With Reference to 24-hour Intragastric pH Monitoring

Abstract

We have studied the effect of a novel H₂-receptor antagonist, Famotidine (YM-11170), on a gastric acidity, plasma secretin and gastrin in 5 patients with duodenal ulcer. 24-hour intragastric pH was monitored continuously by wired glass electrode in each case, administrating of Famotidine (40mg/day, twice orally, after breakfast and at bedtime) and of placebo in the following week, who was on a standard diet.
Without administration of Famotidine, basic intragastric pH varied from 1.0 to 1.5 with transient increases at prandial time and midnight time. Famotidine was effective to regulate intragastric pH values in the nighttime (pH 5-7).
Mean intragastric H⁺ activity, which was converted from pH measurements, was significantly suppressed by Famotidine in the daytime (% suppression, 47.0%), nighttime (81.2%) and 24-hour (56.8%). Thus, it was revealed that oral administration of Famotidine 40mg/day would be valuable for the inhibitory effect on gastric acidity in duodenal ulcer patients.
With administration of placebo, significant increase in plasma secretin concentrations occurred after a meal. However, with Famotidine, postprandial secretin elevation did not occur significantly. On the other hand, postprandial gastrin concentrations increased more significantly in comparison with placebo.