EFFECT OF OMEPRAZOLE AND LANSOPRAZOLE ON SERUM PEPSINOGEN-A LEVELS IN PATIENTS WITH DUODENAL-ULCER

We compared the magnitudes of elevated serum pepsinogen A levels in patients receiving short-term therapy with two proton pump inhibitors for duodenal ulcer. The reversibilities of the elevated levels were evaluated after withdrawal of medications. Patients with active duodenal ulcer received for 4 weeks either 30-mg lansoprazole (n = 42) or 20-mg omeprazole (n = 41) once daily. Four weeks after treatment was discontinued, ulcer healing was seen in 95.2% of patients taking lansoprazoIe and 92.7% of patients taking omeprazole, Both agents led to the marked elevation of serum pepsinogen A levels on day 29 with an equivalent magnitude (2.33 +/- 0.56 vs 2.3 +/- 0.69-fold; NS), The magnitudes of pepsinogen A elevation during Helicobacter pylori elimination were markedly higher than those exhibited when H pylori was not eliminated (P < 0.05). All elevations returned to their baseline levels 4 weeks after the cessation of treatment. We conclude that the standard dosages of both proton pump inhibitors yield an equal healing efficacy and the same magnitude of temporary elevation of serum pepsinogen A levels in duodenal ulcer patients. Patients in whom H pylori was eliminated exhibited a higher incidence of hyperpepsinogenemia A.