[Hydrotalcite in the treatment of reflux esophagitis: a multicenter clinical study].

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the effect of hydrotalcite on reflux esophagitis.

METHODS:

45 patients with endoscopically proven reflux esophagitis were enrolled in 6 Chinese hospitals. All the patients were randomly divided into two groups. 25 patients were allocated to a study group; hydrotalcite was given 1.0 g four times daily for 6 weeks. The remaining 20 patients were allocated to a control group; omeprazole was given 20 mg twice daily in the first 2 weeks and 20 mg once daily in the following 4 weeks. Reflux symptoms including heartburn, regurgitation and chest pain were evaluated during visits after 1, 2, 4 and 6 weeks. At the end of 6 weeks, endoscopy was performed to study the healing rate. Monitoring of esophageal 24-hour pH and bilirubin was performed in 17 patients of the study group and 13 patients of the control group respectively.

RESULTS:

Both hydrotalcite and omeprazole could improve the reflux symptoms. One week after treatment the symptom scores of heartburn, regurgitation and chest pain were significantly decreased in both groups (P < 0.01) and symptom scores were decreased even more after 6 weeks. There was no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). At the end of the treatment, endoscopic healing rate and effective rate was 64.28% and 78.57% respectively in the study group, being similar to that of 66.67% and 93.33% in the control group. Combined monitoring of 24-hour esophageal pH and bilirubin showed that both hydrotalcite and omeprazole could greatly decrease the total time of pH < 4, total time percentage of pH < 4, total time of bilirubin absorption > or = 0.14 and total time percentage of bilirubin absorption > or = 0.14. After treatment, the results of 24-hour esophageal pH and bilirubin combined monitoring became normal in 5 patients (29.41%) of the study group, while the results became normal in 10 patients (76.92%) of the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION:

Hydrotalcite is an effective medication for the treatment of reflux esophagitis.

• Authors: Hydrotalcid Multicenter Clinical Cooperative Group
• Journal: Zhonghua nei ke za zhi (Zhonghua Nei Ke Za Zhi) Vol. 40 Issue 12 Pg. 819-22 (Dec 2001) ISSN: 0578-1426 [Print] China
• PMID: 16206671 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Antacids
• hydrotalcite
• Aluminum Hydroxide
• Magnesium Hydroxide
• Bilirubin

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aluminum Hydroxide (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Antacids (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Bilirubin (analysis)
• Esophagitis, Peptic (drug therapy)
• Female
• Humans
• Hydrogen-Ion Concentration (drug effects)
• Magnesium Hydroxide (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Treatment Outcome