Therapeutic effects of lansoprazole on peptic ulcers in elderly patients

Abstract

We studied the effects of lansoprazole on ulcer healing and Helicobacter pylori infection in elderly patients with peptic ulcers. In a group of 24 patients with gastric ulcers, the H. pylori infection rate was 100%. In the course of gastric ulcer healing with famotidine or lansoprazole alone, the H. pylori infection showed no signs of decline. The ulcer healing rates after 8 weeks were similar between the H2-receptor antagonist famotidine (73%), and the proton pump inhibitor lansoprazole (82%). When eradication of H. pylori infection was attempted by concomitant administration of lansoprazole and amoxicillin 500 mg b.i.d. for 2 weeks, the eradication rate was 33% in the group given lansoprazole 30 mg q.d. plus ampicillin 500 mg b.i.d., whereas it was 77% in the group given lansoprazole 30 mg b.i.d. plus ampicillin 500 mg b.i.d. Lansoprazole is considered to be a useful agent for the treatment of patients with peptic ulcers and H. pylori infection and its effectiveness in H. pylori eradication is improved by b.i.d. administration along with ampicillin.